AAGL: Laparoscopic or vaginal hysterectomy preferred

Obesity is not considered a contraindication to the laparoscopic approach

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2010—Most hysterectomies for benign disease should be performed either vaginally or laparoscopically, according to a position statement by the AAGL (formerly known as the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists and now referred to only by its acronym) published online Nov. 9 in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology.

According to the position paper, approximately 600,000 hysterectomies were performed in the United States annually through 2005, with more than two thirds performed abdominally despite the existence of vaginal and laparoscopic approaches, which are less invasive and associated with lower morbidity in most cases.