The Hysterectomy Surgery Essentials
August 16th, 2011
Touted as the most commonly performed procedure among women, hysterectomy surgery is the removal of the uterus in order to treat medical problems and diseases that can no longer be treated using moreconventional means such as medication, therapies, or other types of surgeries. Depending on the medical issue and its gravity, other parts of the female’s reproductive organs may also be removed such as the cervix, vagina, ovaries, or the fallopian tubes.
Some of the general effects of hysterectomy surgery include infertility and the beginning of menopause if the woman hasn’t entered menopause yet.
When a Hysterectomy Surgery May Be Necessary
Hysterectomy may become necessary if other medical treatments and procedures fail to cure the medical condition, or if the problem is lowering the patient’s quality of life. The following are some of these conditions:
- Hemorrhage
- Uterine prolapse
- Chronic pain
- Chronic bleeding
- Cancer
- Endometriosis
- Fibroids
The Different Ways of Performing Hysterectomy
There are multiple ways to perform a hysterectomy, and these are based on the reproductive parts that are removed. There are also different techniques for performing the surgery.The following are the types of hysterectomy surgery:
Subtotal or partial hysterectomy. In this type of hysterectomy, the ovaries and cervix are left intact and only a portion of the uterus is removed.
Total hysterectomy. This hysterectomy approach is when both the cervix and the uterus are removed. The ovaries can either be left intact or be removed as well.
Radical hysterectomy. This particular hysterectomy approach is performed when the cervix, uterus, ovaries, and even the vagina need to be removed.
The basic surgical approaches for performing a hysterectomy surgery are the following:
Abdominal hysterectomy. In this procedure, an incision is made on the abdomen. The incision can either be horizontal across the bikini line or vertical from the pubic bone to the belly button.
Vaginal hysterectomy. This approach is when the uterus is removed through the vagina.
Laparoscopic assisted hysterectomy. This procedure is used for delicate cases where the surgeon would need to look inside the woman’s abdomen with a camera during the surgical procedure. In this approach, a laparoscope is used with a vaginal hysterectomy.
Recovery from Hysterectomy Surgery
Recovery from hysterectomy surgery generally requires some time, with one to four day of hospital admission.
It may require 1 to 2 weeks to fully recover from a laparascopic or vaginal hysterectomy, while recovery from abdominal hysterectomy can take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks.
A woman who has had a hysterectomy may resume sexual intercourse and tub baths after about 6 weeks.
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