Understand Every Detail About Hysterectomy.
Understanding hysterectomy is quite a complex procedure as it is one of the most difficult surgeries in the human body. It is not just about physical healing but emotional healing as well. Therefore, a precise procedure must be followed in choosing the right kind of surgery depending upon the patient’s condition.
Getting into its depth, it is important to understand the meaning of hysterectomy. Basically, hysterectomy is a surgical procedure wherein the uterus also known as the womb in the female body, is removed.
TYPES OF HYSTERECTOMY
Now, the first and foremost thing that is considered in hysterectomy, is to remove the
uterus.
There are two bases on which the type of hysterectomy is chosen:
1. Organ: The organ may/may not be removed along with the uterus
2. Technique: There are different techniques to remove the uterus.
Hence, there are majorly two techniques that can be used for hysterectomy. These are the ones that are generally prescribed by doctors according to the patient’s condition:
TOTAL HYSTERECTOMY
Under this technique, the whole uterus along with the cervix is removed.
PARTIAL HYSTERECTOMY
Under this technique, only a part is removed as compared to the total hysterectomy. In this procedure, doctors remove the uterus only, keeping the cervix in place. If in some cases, doctors notice the presence of cancerous cells in or around the cervix, then total hysterectomy is followed. Rather than undertaking it, continuous screening can also be done to keep a regular check on the cervix.
HYSTERECTOMY WITH BILATERAL SALPINGO-OOPHORECTOMY
This kind of hysterectomy is prescribed by doctors to avoid the spread of cancerous cells in the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes or due to extreme pelvic pain on account of endometriosis and recurrent pelvic infections. In the removal part, the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries are removed.
RADICAL HYSTERECTOMY
This is the last type of hysterectomy. It is prescribed when patients are diagnosed with malignant cells in the uterine area. This involves removal of the uterus, cervix, upper part of the vagina, surrounding tissues around the cervix and lymph nodes found in the pelvis.
Next, are different kinds of hysterectomy based on the kind of technique used to remove the uterus.
ABDOMINAL HYSTERECTOMY
This type of hysterectomy is prescribed to those women who are obese, have a large uterus and have scar tissues due to previous open surgeries. Abdominal hysterectomy allows much more flexibility to the doctors. During this procedure, the doctor makes a transverse incision in the abdomen just above the pubic area.
Through this incision, the uterus and any other organ are removed. Abdominal hysterectomy is prescribed to patients whose ovaries as well as fallopian tubes are removed along with the uterus due to the development of uterine fibroids, endometriosis, disease spreading around the pubic area or cancer.
VAGINAL HYSTERECTOMY
It is the removal of uterus through a cut or incision made in the vagina. The type of hysterectomy allows doctors to cure uterine prolapse. The biggest advantage of this technique is that the doctors make the incisions inside the vagina which means no visible scars form after the procedure. The whole recovery takes around 2 weeks to complete the procedure.
This involves the doctor disconnecting the uterus, ovaries, upper vagina and fallopian tubes along with the surrounding blood vessels, which are carefully removed. After this, the doctor makes a long incision in the uterus using a specialized instrument called a morcellator; thereafter, the uterus is removed carefully and slowly.
LAPAROSCOPIC HYSTERECTOMY
It involves special instruments such as a laparoscope to complete the surgery. In this procedure, the doctor makes incisions in the abdomen which are very small in size. Then through the laparoscope, the gynecologist can navigate freely and complete the procedure without any major complications. As it is minimally invasive in nature, it becomes a beneficial method.
ADVANTAGES OF LAPAROSCOPIC HYSTERECTOMY
With the advancement in technology, several new techniques such as the use of the laparoscope have become quite popular.
Below mentioned are a few advantages of laparoscopic hysterectomy:
• There are lesser chances of any major mis-happenings such as injury to other organs.
• As the cuts or incisions are small in size, the chances of bleeding are very less. The chances of any major complications occurring during recovery are also less. The recovery is faster; it hardly takes one or two weeks.
• The patient can resume work immediately within 24 hours of the procedure.
RISKS & COMPLICATIONS
The possibilities of risks and complications occurring after hysterectomy may/may not be high, irrespective of the type, one is undergoing.
Similar to any other surgical procedure, the patient is likely to experience some complications mentioned below:
● Constipation
● Infection around the wounds
● Inability to hold the urine (temporarily)
● Excessive bleeding due to hemorrhage
It is noteworthy that the above-mentioned risks or complications are more likely to occur when the patient fails to follow the post-operative routine judiciously. This should be taken care of as these complications usually arise during the recovery period. However, these side effects are temporary in nature and hence, the patients must not get worried.
CONCLUSION
Finally, it can be concluded that there are multiple kinds of hysterectomies available and the most appropriate one is prescribed to the patient after a complete and detailed analysis and diagnosis. Since it is a complication procedure, hence following the necessary post-surgery treatment is important.
Get the best hysterectomy done only at Yashoda Hospital & Research Centre, Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad. Meet our specialists: Dr. Shashi Arora, HOD, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Dr. Jyotsana Agarwal, Senior Consultant, Dr. Aparna Arya Tyagi, Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynecology to get your hysterectomy done today.