Hysterectomy is a major surgical procedure that involves removing the uterus from the female body. This surgery is required in cases of advanced gynecological conditions like fibroids, cancer, abnormal bleeding, and uterine prolapse. Now that you have a basic idea, let’s dive deeper and learn more about the types of hysterectomy. How laparoscopic hysterectomy is performed, and what are the benefits and risks involved with each type of hysterectomy procedure?

When Is Hysterectomy Performed?

Hysterectomy is only recommended to patients in cases where other treatment options have failed. Since this procedure is aggressive and involves removing the uterus completely from the body, it is only used as a last resort. In such cases, if patients don’t opt for hysterectomy, it may cause significant complications in their reproductive systems. Here are some of the conditions that require patients to go for hysterectomy.

• Ovarian cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Womb cancer
• Uterine fibroids
• Prolapsed uterus
• Adenomyosis
• Endometriosis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PIV)

What Are The Types of Hysterectomy?

Hysterectomies are categorized in two ways. Firstly, it is categorized in terms of the process of the surgery. And then it is categorized in terms of the parts it removes from the patient’s body. Let’s explore all the different types of hysterectomy in detail.

Surgical Procedure

• Open surgery

Open surgery as the name suggests is the most aggressive type of hysterectomy. The surgery starts by making a large incision in the abdomen of the patient. This surgery is performed under general anesthesia and has considerable risk both during the procedure and post-surgical risk. This type of hysterectomy also has the longest recovery period, with the patient requiring extensive hospital stay post-surgery during the recovery period.

• Vaginal hysterectomy

Vaginal hysterectomy is a non-invasive type of hysterectomy where the entire surgery is performed using laparoscopic surgical tools, which are inserted into the body through the vagina. Vaginal hysterectomy involves using a camera scope to get the visuals required for patients to complete the surgery. As a non-invasive procedure, it has quick recovery and doesn’t have many risks involved. However, as a specialized surgery, it needs to be performed by experienced surgeons for it to be safe and successful.

• Laparoscopic hysterectomy

Laparoscopic hysterectomy is similar to vaginal hysterectomy, however, this is an invasive procedure. Small incisions are made into the surgery site for the surgical instruments to enter the body. Doctors use camera scopes to get the visuals and perform the surgery using that. As the incisions are smaller, the overall recovery is quicker for a laparoscopic hysterectomy compared to an open surgery. The risks are also lower comparatively, however, the surgery needs to be performed by experienced doctors to ensure a safe surgery with quick recovery.

Surgical Removal

• Subtotal hysterectomy

Subtotal hysterectomy is a type of the surgery categorized based on the contents it removes from the patient’s body. A subtotal hysterectomy removes only the upper part of the uterus and keeps the cervix in place. As a hysterectomy, women going through this procedure can’t bear children anymore. This procedure can be performed both as an open surgery or as a laparoscopic procedure.

• Total hysterectomy

Total hysterectomy involves removing both the uterus and the cervix completely from the patient’s body. This is the most common type of hysterectomy as in most cases, this procedure ensures that the underlying condition can’t spread or develop further. However, as an aggressive procedure, this surgery has a considerable recovery period and can have the post-surgical risk of infections and blood clots. For best results, it is advised that patients get their surgery from only the top medical institutions.

• Radical hysterectomy

This type of hysterectomy is the most aggressive and has to be performed in cases where cancer is present. Radical hysterectomy involves removing the uterus, the tissues located beside the uterus, the cervix, and even the upper part of the vagina. This is done to protect the body from the spread of cancer. As an aggressive procedure, it has considerable risks and a long recovery period.

How Is Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Performed?

A laparoscopic hysterectomy is performed by making several small incisions into the surgery site instead of making a large incision. Making smaller incisions ensures that the recovery time for the patient is less compared to an open surgery. Doctors use special laparoscopic surgical tools to perform this surgery including a camera scope, which allows the surgeons to see inside the body.

The surgeons then use other surgical tools to remove the abnormal growth or completely remove the uterus from the body. Once the removal is complete, doctors take out the surgical tools and sew up the incisions to complete the surgery.

Laparoscopic hysterectomy is performed under general anesthesia but on an outpatient basis. Patients are free to go back home after they are awake from the anesthesia. The recovery guidelines are also quite easier for laparoscopic surgery, where patients can be independent and do basic household activities after the surgery without any problem.

What Are The Benefits & Risks of Hysterectomy?

• Benefits

Hysterectomy is an aggressive procedure and often the last resort in terms of treatment. So, one of the most important benefits of hysterectomy is that it can treat the underlying condition from affecting your health further. The disruptive symptoms that are affecting you also subside post-surgery. Going through a hysterectomy is also a way for some patients to lower their cancer risk. These are some of the most important benefits of going through a hysterectomy. As mentioned earlier, patients going through hysterectomy often have chronic pain, and going through this surgery is a way to treat the pain and any inflammation caused by the underlying conditions.

• Risks

Hysterectomy involves removing internal organs of a woman’s body, which can lead to excessive bleeding during the surgery. Similarly, once the surgery is completed, the risk of infections is another major risk for this type of surgery. Urinary incontinence is also a risk of hysterectomy as patients often have trouble holding their urine after going through this surgery. To minimize the risk factors, patients need to go through laparoscopic procedures from the top medical institutions in the country.

Conclusion

Now you have all the information you need to know about hysterectomy. Be assured that even though it may seem scary, this procedure is fairly safe as long as you are under the care of expert surgeons. So, make sure you choose your hospital carefully if you need to go through a surgery. Also, be sure to get a second opinion as there are several alternative treatment options available nowadays for hysterectomy. This might allow you to get the treatment you need without having to go through a surgery at all. For further information about hysterectomy or to avail our top of the top-of-the-line minimally invasive surgeries, feel free to visit our website.