| This is an abdominal hysterectomy performed on a patient who suffered from endometriosis. The surgery was performed in July of 2009 at Dr Jeyasekharan Hospital in Nagercoil, India.
Types of hysterectomy:
The National Women's Health Information Center of the Department of Health and Social Services uses the following definitions for the types of hysterectomy surgery:
1. Complete or total hysterectomy: removes the cervix and uterus and is the most common type.
2. Partial, subtotal, or supracervical hysterectomy: removes the upper part of the uterus and leaves the cervix in place.
3. Radical hysterectomy: removes the uterus, cervix, upper vagina and supporting tissues.
4. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: one or both ovaries and fallopian tubes are removed at the time of the hysterectomy.
Indication for hysterectomy:
1. fibroids
2. endometriosis
3. uterine prolapse
4. abnormal uterine bleeding
5. cancer
6. chronic back pain
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists describes 4 main approaches to the surgery:
1. Abdominal Hysterectomy: the physician makes a vertical or horizontal incision through the skin and tissue in the lower abdomen to reach the uterus. The advantage of this approach is that it gives the physician the best view of the uterus, allowing the physician to fully remove large tumors. This type of surgery requires a longer healing time than other approaches.
2. Vaginal Hysterectomy: the surgery is done through the vagina, thus preventing any scarring on the abdominal wall. Because the incision is inside the vagina, the healing time may be shorter than with abdominal surgery.
3. Laparoscopically Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH): the physician removes the uterus through the vagina. This approach is selected if standard vaginal hysterectomy cannot be done. LAVH involves the use of a small light-transmitting device called a laparoscope, which is placed in the abdomen through a small incision. The uterus is removed through the vagina. Recovery from LAVH is similar to vaginal hysterectomy. However, the surgical time is longer than standard vaginal hysterectomy. Laparoscopy may also increase the risk of damage to other organs.
4. Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: done through small incisions in the abdomen. The uterus is removed in small pieces through these incisions. Laparoscopic hysterectomy has a shorter recovery time than abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy.
Complications of hysterectomy: hysterectomy is considered low risk for a major surgery.
• Blood clots in the veins or lungs
• Infection
• Bleeding during or after surgery
• Bowel blockage
• Injury to the urinary tract or nearby organs
• Problems related to anesthesia
• Early menopause (if ovaries are removed)
• Death
Acknowledgments: We would like to thank Dr. Jiji Matthews at CMC Vellore, India, the Gold Foundation and Dr. Chandy for making this trip possible.
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Brief Description