Considering Hysterectomy?
Considering
Hysterectomy?
Discover All the Options
A hysterectomy
is an operation to remove the uterus (womb). The uterus cradles and
nourishes a fetus from conception to birth, and aids in the delivery
of the baby. It also produces the monthly menstrual flow.
Hysterectomy
is one treatment for a number of diseases and conditions. If you have
cancer of the uterus or ovaries or hemorrhage (uncontrollable bleeding)
of the uterus, this operation may save your life. In most other cases,
a hysterectomy is an elective procedure. The operation is done to improve
the quality of life: to relieve pain, heavy bleeding or other chronic
conditions and discomfort.
A hysterectomy
may be suggested for the following diseases or conditions:
• cancer
of the uterus or ovary
• fibroids (non-cancerous tumors)
• endometriosis
• prolapse (occurs when vaginal supports sag downward)
• cancer of cervix
• pre-cancer of the uterus
• pelvic Adhesions
• unusually heavy bleeding
• pelvic pain
TAH
Total Abdominal
Hysterectomy (TAH)
Large
incision or "bikini cut" (4-6 inches)
Tissues of the
abdominal wall are stretched and uterus is removed
Requires
3-5 day hospital stay; normal activity can usually resume in 6
weeks
VH
Vaginal
Hysterectomy (VH)
Incision (approximately
1 inch) made at the top of the vagina
Uterus and
cervix are seperated from the body and removed through the vagina
Abdominal
walls are not stretched
Requires
1-3 day hospital stay; normal activity can usually resume in 4
weeks
LAVH
Laparoscopically Assisted
Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH)
Laparoscope
(miniature camera) is inserted through a small incision to view the
uterus and surrounding organs
Uterus is detached
under view of the laparoscope using special tools inserted through
small incisions
Incision (approximately
1 inch) made at the top of the vagina
Uterus and cervix
are removed through the vaginal incision
Requires 1-3 day
hospital stay; normal activity can usually resume in 4 weeks
LSH and TLH
Laparoscopic
Supracervical Hysterectomy (LSH)
and Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy (TLH)
Using
only laparoscopic tools, uterus is separated from the
body and removed through one of the abdominal incisions
An
LSH leaves the cervix in place; a TLH removes both the
uterus and the cervix
Requires
1-3 day hospital stay; normal activity can usually resume
in 4 weeks
Risks and Complications
Risks
and Complications:
As with
any surgical procedure, Minimally Invasive Procedures (MIP)
for hysterectomy may present risks. Talk with your doctor
about whether you are a candidate for MIP for hysterectomy.
The risk for serious complications depends on the reason
the surgery is needed, your medical condition and age,
as well as the experience of the surgeon and anesthesiologist.
Ask your doctor or surgeon about what to expect after surgery,
as well as the risks that may occur with surgery, including
those listed below:
Risks
of Any Surgery
- Reactions
to medications or problems resulting from anesthesia
- Problems
breathing
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Blood
clots in the veins or lungs
- Death
(rare)
- Inadvertent
injury to organs and vessels near the uterus
Risks
of Conventional Surgery
Additionally,
an open procedure such as TAH has a greater potential for:
- Muscle
injury
- Post-operative
incisional hernia
Choosing
MIP vs. Conventional Surgery
For
some patients, MIP is not an appropriate choice. Your surgeon
will help determine the best choice for you and will consider
factors such as:
- Obesity
- History
of prior abdominal surgery that may have resulted in
the
formation of dense scar tissue
- Underlying
medical conditions
The
decision to perform MIP or an open procedure such as TAH
should be made during a discussion with your surgeon. Sometimes
a procedure can start out as MIP, but may have to be converted
to open surgery based on the factors listed above or events
that occur during the surgery such as:
- Inability
to safely visualize organs
- Bleeding
problems during the operation
Surgical
techniques may vary from the examples shown. As with any
surgical procedure, there are risks that accompany hysterectomy.
