Hysterectomy Surgery - How Safe and Effective Is This Surgery?

What is a hysterectomy?

The procedure for treatment of many female disorders and ailments are known, one of which is hysterectomy. This is a process to remove uterus from body of a female and other reproductive organs too.  This is required for various kinds of disorders.

According to the studies it is one of the most common surgeries in females ranking at number second, in child bearing age group of women. With records of NHS (National Health Service), UK, approx 20 % of women at age of 55 years have this surgery for some or other reasons.

“Hysterectomy “is derived from hystera, a Greek word which means “womb”, and suffix -ectomy is a” cutting out”, came from Greek term ektome.

Reasons for Having a Hysterectomy

·      Unusual vaginal bleeding that is not controlled by other treatment strategies

·      Extreme endometriosis (uterine tissue that develops outside the uterus)

·  Leiomyomas or uterine fibroids (kind tumors) that have expanded in size are excruciating or are the cause of bleeding.

·   Expanded pelvic agony identified with the uterus however not controlled by other treatment

·   Uterine prolapse (uterus that has "dropped" into the vaginal waterway because of debilitated bolster muscles) that can prompt urinary incontinence or trouble with discharging stools and causing constipation.

·    Cervical or uterine cancer or variations from the norm that may prompt growth for disease like cancer.

·       Heavy and painful periods

·       Pelvic inflammatory disease (chronic pelvic pain) 

What are different Types of Hysterectomy?

There are three types of hysterectomy, they are

·     A subtotal hysterectomy – in this method only uterus is eliminated surgically , cervix is not removed.

·     A total hysterectomy - here the complete body of the uterus and the cervix both are removed surgically.

·   A total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy - here the complete reproductive system the uterus, fallopian tubes, cervix, and ovaries are all surgically removed. The other name for the process is Radical hysterectomy.

Surgical techniques and methods to perform hysterectomy

Specialists use distinctive methodologies for hysterectomy, contingent upon the specialist's experience, the explanation behind the hysterectomy, and also a lady's general wellbeing. The hysterectomy strategy will incompletely focus recuperating time and the sort of scar, if any, that remaining parts after the operation.

There are two ways to deal with surgery – a conventional or open surgery and surgery utilizing a minimal invasive method or MIP

Open Surgery Hysterectomy- conventional method (abdominal hysterectomy)

A stomach hysterectomy is an open surgery. This is the most widely recognized way to deal with hysterectomy, representing around 65% of all methods.

To perform a stomach hysterectomy, a specialist makes a 5-to 7-inch entry point, either here and there or side-to-side, over the paunch. The specialist then uproots the uterus through this cut.

MIP Hysterectomy (minimal invasive method)

·        Vaginal hysterectomy: the incision is made over vagina to remove uterus. No scar is developed by closing the cut. 

·        Laparoscopic hysterectomy: the surgical method involves a laparoscope, a tube with a lighted camera, and instruments inserted in the belly via small cuts. The surgeon operates all tools performing the hysterectomy from outside the body, by viewing on screen through camera inserted.

·        Laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy

·        Robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy

How is Laparoscopic Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH) performed?

Laparoscopically Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH) - laparoscopic surgical procedures are utilized to uproot the uterus and/or tubes and ovaries through the vagina. At the point when the tubes and ovaries must be removed it used to be important to make a cut through stomach. LAVH expands the likelihood of doing this through the vagina. Patients generally need to have benign conditions that prompt hysterectomy and have a uterus with small size. LAVHs are turning out to be more general for patients with a uterine prolapse. Specialists say that conventional vaginal hysterectomies give them less space to work and no legitimate chance to take an observation at the pelvic organs - the camera toward the end of the laparoscope permits him/her too see inside the belly.

What are the advantages and risks of LAVH?

Advantages

·       Permits specialist to analyze pelvic organs and evacuate sores (cysts), scar tissue (grips), fibroids, and regions of disease affected by infection.

·       At the point when compared to stomach hysterectomy, this process needs a shorter hospitalization and causes less torment.

·       Lesser recovery time

·       Littler scars on the stomach area than with an abdominal hysterectomy.

Risks and complications

       Most ladies who experience hysterectomy have no major issues from LAVH. But some complications may occur, as with any surgery, hysterectomy can bring about for a little minority of ladies. Those inconveniences include:

·       Urinary incontinence

·       Anesthesia problems (such as breathing or heart problems)

·       Pain

How Safe and Effective Is This Surgery?

Hysterectomy Surgery in India is a long term beneficial surgery and effective method to treat various female affecting disorders and reproductive organ troubles.

The advanced methods make appropriate treatment options with minimum risks giving a healthy life ahead.

Reference:

http://www.webmd.com/women/guide/hysterectomy

http://www.medicinenet.com/hysterectomy/article.htm

9 Safe Routines to Get You Move Again After a Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure involving the removal of a woman’s uterus. Hysterectomy is the second most common surgery among women of reproductive age with about 600,000 procedures being performed each year. The primary reason for hysterectomy include endometriosis, pelvic pain, shifting of the uterus and cancer of the uterus, ovaries or cervix and uterine fibroids.

There are three different degrees of hysterectomy; total, partial and radical. Your doctor will make a recommendation based on the patient’s medical condition and history. Recovery time will vary depending on the type of surgery performed.

Types of Hysterectomy:

1. Abdominal Hysterectomy
2. Vaginal or Laparoscopic-Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH)
3. Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy (LSH)

As per the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the patients undergoing this procedure should get lots of rests, take short walks and refrain from lifting the heavy objects.

Exercising After Undergoing a Hysterecomy:

Post-hysterectomy exercise is one of the key factors in the healing process by promoting healthy sleep, assisting in weight loss, relieving muscle tension and preventing a range of diseases, from various types of cancer to diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Women who were physically fit before undergoing this procedure are more likely to have an easier recovery and will be able to quickly return back to their routine physical activities.

The safe routines to get you moving again posy hysterectomy include the following:

1. Walking: You can start walking on your doctor’s approval. Take short, frequent walks; this will help to speed up the healing and recovery process and will reduce the risk of blood clots.
2. Breathing Exercises: It is quite common to experience difficulty breathing in the hours and days following a hysterectomy. Take long, slow breaths, completely filling the lungs, belly and rib cage before slowly exhaling. Targeted breathing exercises will help you return to a normal, comfortable respiratory pattern.
3. Stretching: Gentle stretches will help relieve muscle tension and promote healthy blood circulation. Stretch your upper back and shoulders while lying on the bed or on the floor. Bend your knees and reach your arms up over the head, lightly press them against the floor or the bed and then release. Repeat this procedure. As you get stronger and more mobile, you can add more advanced stretches to this routine.
4. Pelvic Tilts: It helps to strengthen the pelvic floor. Lie on your back with your knees bent and support your head with a pillow. Lift your bottom up into a bridge position while contracting your stomach muscles. Keep your middle back flush against the floor. Maintain this position for a few seconds, release and repeat this procedure.
5. Kegels: Post hysterectomy, your pelvic floor may be weakened and this can cause loss of the bladder control, shifting of pelvic organs and other problems. They can be performed in any position and at any time. Simply, squeeze the muscle you would normally use to stop the flow of urine, release and repeat. Aim for high repetitions of varying lengths.
6. Head Sit-Ups: If you are not ready for full-crunches, then start with a head sit-up. Lie on your back, bend your knees and cross your arms over the belly. Cinch the stomach muscles with your hands, slowly raise your head off the floor and bring your chin to your chest. After a few seconds, release and repeat.
7. Stomach “Vacuums”: This move helps strengthen the stomach muscles safely. Start from your hands and knees, inhale and then tighten your tummy as you slowly exhale. After a few seconds, release and repeat it.
8. Lower Back Exercises: They help to strengthen the core while improving the posture and stability, thereby aid in healing and recovery. It also helps to alleviate and prevent the back pain post hysterectomy.
9. Other Abdominal Exercises: It’s normal to experience bloating or loss of abdominal strength after a hysterectomy. Although diet and cardio help in slimming down the midsection, targeted core exercises helps to strengthen those muscles. Ensure to give special attention to the transverses abdominis (TA) muscles by performing, planks, Pilates moves, bridges and forward ball rolls.

Wrap-up:

Always check with your doctor before starting or resuming an exercise routine after undergoing a hysterectomy surgery. Walk and stretch as soon as your doctor gives you the green signal. Do not lift anything heavier than five pounds for the complete recovery period. Engage yourself in abdominal exercises only after the full recovery period. Even if you feel good, do not overdo it since you can strain the incision or cause an internal injury.

Read More:

Types of Hysterectomy Surgery in India

Types of Hysterectomy Surgery

All hysterectomies involve removal of the uterus, but the type of method used generally depends upon the problem being treated: 

In partial or supracervical hysterectomy, the higher part of the uterus is removed, leaving the cervix intact.
Total or even complete hysterectomy is made of the elimination of both the uterus as well as the cervix. This is the best known type of hysterectomy done.
Hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is the removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. 

Radical hysterectomy is an extensive surgical technique in which the uterus, cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, upper vagina, some surrounding tissue, and lymph nodes are removed.

Hysterectomy Surgical Treatments

Traditionally, hysterectomies have been carried out by using a procedure well-known as total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH). However, in recent times, 2 less-invasive methods have been created: vaginal hysterectomy and also laparoscopic hysterectomy.

In a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), the surgeon makes an incision approximately 5 ins long in the stomach wall, cutting though skin and connective tissue to get to the uterus. The cut can be either vertical3running from just under the navel to just above the pubic bone, or horizontal—running across the top of the public bone (called a bikini-line incision).

One benefit of total abdominal hysterectomy is that the surgeon can get a total, unobstructed look at the uterus and surrounding places. There is more room in which to make the surgery. This kind of operation is mainly helpful if there are large fibroids or in case of cancer is suspected. Drawbacks can include more pain and a longer recovery time than various other surgeries, and a bigger scar.

A vaginal hysterectomy is performed through a tiny incision near the top of the vagina. Through the incision, the uterus (and cervix, if necessary) is separated or divorced from its connecting tissue and blood supply and removed through the vagina. If the cervix is not being removed, the incision is created around the cervix, which is then reattached when the procedure is over.

This surgery is often used for problems just like uterine prolapse. However, the surgeon has less room in which to manage and is unable to notice some other internal organs in the pelvic area. Vaginal hysterectomy heals quicker than abdominal hysterectomy, results in less pain, and in general does not cause external scarring.

In laparoscopic hysterectomy, special surgical equipment is used to conduct through tiny incisions in the stomach as well as vagina. There are 2 different types of laparoscopic hysterectomy: laparoscopically helped vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH).

LAVH is similar to vaginal hysterectomy, and the uterus and cervix are removed through an incision near the top of the vagina; but, the surgeon also uses a laparoscope (small camera) inserted into the stomach to check the uterus and surrounding internal organs. Other laparoscopic tools are put into stomach incisions to detach the uterus before removing it.

LSH is conducted completely through tiny abdominal incisions, using laparoscopic equipment to remove just the uterus. Because the cervix is not removed, the uterus is detached and removed in compact pieces through the incisions. No incision was created at the top of the vagina.

Both types of laparoscopic hysterectomy make less pain and have quicker recovery times as compared to TAH as well as create small scarring.

Keep reading to find out more about:

Hysterectomy: Know Your Surgical Options

Urin Cancer spread after Hysterectomy?