Research from Northwestern University in the area of hysteroscopy described.

"To estimate use of hysteroscopic surgery for evaluating genital tract bleeding and related disorders. Using the U.S.," scientists in the United States report (see also Hysteroscopy).

"National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery, we performed a retrospective, cross-sectional study of women undergoing outpatient hysteroscopy. Rates of procedures were tabulated for all years available (19941996). Comparison was made across age, ethnicity, and geographic distribution. Complication rates for operative injury and pulmonary edema were estimated from corresponding diagnosis codes. The estimated number of women undergoing outpatient hysteroscopy was 197,800, 225,900 and 232,000 for the years 1994-1996, respectively. Twenty percent of cases included operative hysteroscopy. Commonly associated diagnoses included menorrhagia, postmenopausal bleeding, uterine polyps and leiomyoma. The most common concomitant procedures performed included dilation and curettage, laparoscopy and uterine lesion destruction, not elsewhere classified. Complication rates were 2.3 per 1,000 hysteroscopies, but 3 times higher for operative hysteroscopy," wrote F.E. Tu and colleagues, Northwestern University.

The ...