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BYVAGINAL hysterectomy is being performed more frequently in this country in the treatment of utero-vaginal prolapse than previously, and in some centres in America the vaginal route has been used more commonly than the abdominal in performing hysterectomy (Welch and Randall, 1961). The safety of the operation has been emphasized by the very low mortality rates quoted by Benson (1958), Hawksworth and Roux (1958), Johnson (1959) and Copenhaver (1960. It was considered likely to be of interest to find out how the operation stands the test of time by re-examining patients several years after operation. As Hawksworth and Roux (1958) state: "A true appreciation of the value and efficacy of vaginal hysterectomy, or any operation for that matter, can only be arrived at by a re-examination of the patient one year and more after operation, preferably by an independent observer and not by the original surgeon." MATERIAL In the four-year period 1954-57 vaginal hysterectomy, usually with a repair operation, was performed 355 times at the Samaritan Hospital for Women. Each of these patients was written to and asked to return to the hospital for interview and examhation. One hundred and forty-five patients presented themselves and this report is made up of interviews and examination of these patients with review of their case notes. The patients were examined not less than 3 years after their original operation. It was found that these patients had been operated on by one of 12 gynaecological surgeons and thus they will show the results of a varied cross-section of techniques and skills at the operation. MORTALITYIn the four-year period, amongst 355 operations, there were three deaths giving a mortality rate of 0.8 per cent. Two deaths were due to pulmonary embolism and the third to pulmonary collapse.

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