American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists 1988 Membership Survey on Operative Hysteroscopy [correction of hysterectomy].

The 1988 American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists' (AAGL) Membership Survey on Operative Hysteroscopy had a 19% response rate. A total of 377 respondents reported performing 7,293 operative hysteroscopies. The number of procedures reported per respondent ranged from 1 to 325; 75% of physicians reported performing 20 or fewer procedures. In 1988, a small number of practitioners performed a large number of procedures. Directed biopsy and polypectomy through the hysteroscope were the procedures most commonly reported. Most operative hysteroscopies were performed for a complaint of either abnormal bleeding (57%) or infertility (27%). The most frequently reported complication was uterine perforation not requiring transfusion (13 per 1,000 procedures). More serious complications which occurred in at least 1 per 1,000 procedures included water intoxication or pulmonary edema, hospital readmission, hospitalization greater than 72 hours, and transfusion for hemorrhage.