 Hysterotomy is major abdominal surgery, and is generally only performed in hospitals and other advanced practice settings.The procedure is nearly identical to a cesarean section, with two main exceptions, those being the administration of a Feticidal injection of digoxin or potassium chloride before the procedure to insure fetal demise, guaranteeing compliance with various laws on the subject, and preventing an unintended live birth; and the size of the incision, which is generally smaller than that of a cesarean section, as the fetus is generally not full term.Scholarly sources place the use of this method since at least 1913.