ABSTRACT

Vaginal hysterectomy dates back to ancient times. It is reputed that in AD 120 Soranus in the city of Ephesus was one of the first to perform the procedure for the removal of an inverted uterus that had become gangrenous and black in color. The first reported attempt at abdominal hysterectomy was much later in 1852. Unfortu­ nately these early procedures were fraught with hazards and the patient usually did not survive the immediate postoperative period.1