Total Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the uterus.
- Type of procedure: It Can be a open Surgery or minimally invasive (Laparoscopy)
- Recovery time: Can take several weeks
- Duration of the Surgery : It takes About 1-3 hours, Depending upon the Complexity .
- Hospital stay: The Patient Could Typically stay for a few days
What to expect before The Total Hysterectomy procedure
- The doctor explains the details of the procedure, its benefits, and risks/complications.
- Various Blood and urine tests are performed.
- An intravenous (IV) line is placed in the arm to deliver fluids and medicines.
- Hair in the pelvis area is clipped.
What to expect during procedure
- A local anesthesia that numbs the lower body or a general anesthesia that affects the entire body is given.
- An abdominal open surgery involves making a 5 to 7 inch horizontal or vertical incision through the abdominal wall and removal of uterus.
- Minimally invasive procedures include vaginal surgery and laparoscopic surgery.
- Vaginal surgery is where the uterus is removed through a cut at the top of the vagina leaving no visible scar.
- Laparoscopic surgery (keyhole surgery) involves removal of the uterus through several small cuts in the abdomen.
What to expect after procedure
- After the surgery, the hospital stay might last up to 5 days.
- Do not lift anything heavy, such as shopping bags or babies/toddlers for at least 6 weeks or as long as the doctor instructs.
- Abstain from sex for 6 weeks after the surgery.
- If the ovaries are also removed, the woman enters menopause.
Risks and Complications
Complications are rare and may include:
- Adverse reaction to the anesthetic
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Injury to neighboring organs/tissues such as the bladder, intestines and blood vessels
- There is a risk of urinary incontinence, vaginal prolapse, fistula formation and chronic pain.
- Hysterectomy cannot be performed in patients who want to have children
