Peripartum hysterectomy in the United States: nationwide 14 year experience

Objective The objective of the study was to examine the trends in the rate of peripartum hysterectomy and the contribution of changes in maternal characteristics to these trends. Study Design This was a cross-sectional study of peripartum hysterectomy identified from hospitalizations for delivery recorded in the 1994-2007 Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Results The overall rate of peripartum hysterectomy increased by 15% during the study period. The rate of hysterectomy for abnormal placentation increased by 1.2-fold; adjustment for previous cesarean delivery explained nearly all of this increase. The rate of hysterectomy for uterine atony following repeat cesarean delivery increased nearly 4-fold, following primary cesarean delivery approximately 2.5-fold, and following vaginal delivery about 1.5-fold. This fast growing trend in peripartum hysterectomy secondary to uterine atony was also largely explained by increasing rates of primary and repeat cesareans. Conclusion Rates of peripartum hysterectomy increased substantially in the United States from 1994 to 2007; much of this increase was due to rising rates of cesarean delivery.