A hysterectomy can be a life-changing procedure, often necessary for conditions like fibroids, endometriosis, and cancer. It’s a major surgery that involves important considerations regarding the type of hysterectomy, type of anesthesia, preoperative preparations, and postoperative pain management.
Since there are many hysteroscopy procedures available in medical corridors, it makes sense to list the most popular and reliable ones. In this blog, Apex Hospital- home to laparoscopic surgeons in Sirsa, India – explores different types of hysterectomies, their benefits, and how minimally invasive surgery is transforming recovery and overall well-being.
Let’s get started!
What is Hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus and related organs, often called the womb (the place where the baby grows during pregnancy). Depending on the reason for surgery, other organs near the uterus, including the ovaries and fallopian tubes, might also be removed.
The most common reasons for which hysteroscopy is done include:
– Uterine fibroids causing pain, bleeding, or other complications
– Uterine prolapse, where the uterus slips into the vaginal canal
– Cancers of the uterus, cervix, or ovaries
– Endometriosis
– Abnormal vaginal bleeding
– Chronic pelvic pain
– Adenomyosis (tissue grows into the uterine wall and thickens it)
– Severe menstrual pain
– Recurrent uterine polyps
– Gender affirmation procedures.
It is usually considered the next step of treatment only if other forms of treatment have been exhausted, especially if cancer is not involved.
Hysterectomy Types as per Incision Size
There are different types of hysterectomy procedures, each suited for particular medical conditions and treatment preferences. Here are the most popular types:
1. Laparoscopic Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH)
Laparoscopic Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that combines the most excellent features of both laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery and vaginal surgery. In LAVH, small incisions are made in the abdomen to insert the camera and instruments through which the uterus can be removed through the vaginal canal.
Advantages of LAVH:
– Shorter recovery time compared to abdominal hysterectomy
– Less pain post-surgery
– Smaller incisions lead to less scarring
– Reduced risk of infection
– Often allows patients to go home the same day
2. Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy (TLH)
In TLH, the uterus is removed in total with the help of laparoscopy. The TLH procedure involves a small incision to the uterus from its support structures like ligaments and blood vessels along with the adjacent tissue. What differentiates TLH from LAVH is the absence of a vaginal incision.
Advantages of TLH:
– Even smaller incisions, lead to quicker recovery and minimal scarring
– Significantly reduced risk of infection compared to abdominal surgery
– Shorter hospital stay
– Lower risk of complications like blood loss and damage to surrounding organs
3. Vaginal Hysterectomy
One of the oldest and the most traditional forms, a vaginal hysterectomy involves the removal of the uterus through the vaginal canal. For example, it is usually considered when the uterus is smaller, and there are no significant scar tissues or other complications.
Advantages of Vaginal Hysterectomy:
– No abdominal incision is required, leading to less pain and a quicker recovery
– Lower risk of infection and blood loss
– Shorter hospital stay
4. Abdominal Hysterectomy
Abdominal hysterectomy is a very invasive type of hysterectomy because it takes an incision across the abdomen, from where the uterus is removed. This procedure is considered only when the other methods, which are either vaginal or laparoscopic, cannot be used because of fibroids large in size, cancer, and severe adhesions within the pelvis.
Advantages of Abdominal Hysterectomy:
– Suitable for patients with complex conditions or very large uteruses
– Can be combined with other procedures like the removal of ovaries or lymph nodes
Hysterectomy Types as per Nature of Removal
Total or Complete Hysterectomy
The most common type of hysterectomy is the total or radical hysterectomy. The uterus and cervix are removed, but the patient’s ovaries and fallopian tubes are generally preserved.
This surgery could be conducted to treat several non-neoplastic disorders, including:
– Chronic pelvic pain
– Uterine prolapse
– Fibroids
It can also be administered for the treatment of cancers of the uterus, cervix, ovaries, or fallopian tubes.
Subtotal, Partial, or Supracervical Hysterectomy
In a subtotal hysterectomy, the uterus is removed but the cervix remains. The surgery time would tend to be relatively short with little bleeding during the procedure.
It can be chosen for the treatment of fibroids or for any other non-cancerous conditions, such as endometriosis. Women, who might want to retain their reproductive organs partially, would prefer this type of hysterectomy; however, there is no apparent advantage or disadvantage to retaining the cervix.
Total Hysterectomy with Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy
During this procedure, the woman undergoes a total hysterectomy. Patients are left with some severe risks since ovaries and fallopian tubes are removed as well. It is termed bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The surgery is usually performed on patients who are at risk of ovarian cancer.
Loss of the ovaries causes surgical menopause. It results in similar symptoms that occur with natural menopause:
– Hot flashes
– Vaginal dryness
– Low sexuality
– Increases in the probability of heart attacks and osteoporosis
Radical Hysterectomy
A radical hysterectomy is a more extensive procedure typically recommended for treating certain types of cancer, particularly cervical cancer. It involves the removal of the uterus, cervix, and surrounding tissues, and may also include the ovaries, fallopian tubes, lymph nodes, and the upper part of the vagina.
This type of surgery is usually considered if other treatments like chemotherapy or radiotherapy have been tried. It is a more invasive surgery, intended to ensure complete removal of cancerous tissues.
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Open vs. Laparoscopic Hysteroscopy Surgery
The primary difference between open surgery and laparoscopic surgery lies in the size of the incision. Open surgery is the traditional approach where a large, single incision (often several inches long) is made to access the abdomen. In contrast, laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive technique that uses several small incisions, typically less than a quarter of an inch in size. During laparoscopic procedures, a specialized tool called a laparoscope is inserted to view and perform the surgery through these small incisions, making it a more advanced and less invasive option.
Laparoscopic surgery offers several benefits over open surgery, including:
– The pain caused is minimal due to the small incisions
– There would be little bleeding during the process
– There will be minimal complications like infection and scarring due to wounds
– Recovery can be done swiftly, thus returning the patient to normal activities sooner.
– Shorter hospital stays often reduce the amount of time spent in the hospital after surgery.
The advantages of laparoscopic surgery outweigh traditional hysteroscopy, and that’s why thousands of women every day opt for laparoscopic surgery. However, the doctor must be consulted to ascertain the advantages and probable risks of each surgical procedure on the specific patient.
While laparoscopic surgery often offers advantages over open surgery, the best choice depends on individual health factors and the specific medical condition being treated.
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Stress Urinary Incompetence and Concomitant Treatment
A lot of women in India struggle with stress urinary incompetence, and that’s why we think it makes sense to address it in this article. For those who don’t know, SUI represents urine leaks in women when engaging in sudden activities like exercising, laughing, and sneezing.
Concomitant treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) may include a combination of surgery and pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME).
Laparoscopic surgery offers the advantage of addressing stress urinary incontinence in a single procedure. Here are its additional benefits:
One recovery period: There is only one recovery process for the patient and, therefore, saves downtime as a whole.
Reduces risks: The integration of both treatments can also reduce the risk of needing another surgery.
Improved outcome: The treatment of both gynecological and urinary incontinence conditions in a patient will be helpful for the improvement of quality of life in such patients.
Laparoscopic surgery at APEX Hospital
Laparoscopic techniques offer a significant advantage over traditional surgery procedures by minimizing recovery times, pain, and complications. Additionally, managing stress urinary incontinence concomitantly with laparoscopic surgery provides a comprehensive approach that enhances the patient’s overall well-being.
At Apex Hospital, we undertake advanced laparoscopic surgeries to treat diseases like Gallstones, Appendicitis, Ovarian Cysts, Adhesiolysis, Diagnostic Laparoscopy, Myomectomy, LAVH, Ectopic Pregnancy, and many other Laparoscopic abdominal surgeries. Led by Dr. RK Mehta, our surgeons are well-equipped with world-class infrastructure for routine as well as complicated laparoscopic surgeries.
Reach out to us on WhatsApp or call us at +919809400102 to enquire about hysteroscopy surgery pricing, recovery timeline, and more.
