A hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus through surgery. A hysterectomy is performed for a variety of disorders that involve the uterus, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The most common disorders that might lead to a hysterectomy include uterine or cervical cancer; abnormal excessive bleeding; and fibroids. The Penn State Hershey Medical Center reports that hysterectomies are a common procedure, with about 600,000 of these procedures performed every year in the U.S. Hysterectomies can be performed several different ways.
Traditional Abdominal Hysterectomy
A traditional abdominal hysterectomy involves the removal of the uterus through a long incision in the abdomen. While less invasive surgical hysterectomy procedures are available, the MayoClinic.com notes that this type of hysterectomy is sometimes recommended when the uterus is very large, or if the surgeon wants to view other tissues in the pelvic region in order to check for disease. The surgeon will either make a vertical or horizontal incision in the abdomen, and the direction of the incision is dependent upon the reason for the hysterectomy and the size of the uterus. During the surgery, the surgeon separates the uterus from the vagina, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. The cervix is usually removed along with the body of the uterus, which is called a total hysterectomy. If the cervix is not removed as well, the procedure is called a partial hysterectomy. The ovaries and fallopian tubes may also be removed. The University of Maryland Medical Center adds that, after the uterus is removed, the layers of the abdominal tissue are closed with stitches and staples.
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
A laparoscopic hysterectomy is a surgical procedure in which several small incisions are made in the abdomen, rather than the large abdominal incision performed in a traditional abdominal hysterectomy. Laparoscopic hysterectomies are a more recently developed procedure. Penn State Hershey, one institution that performs this surgery laparoscopically, states that this procedure is less invasive than a traditional abdominal hysterectomy, and the advantages include a faster and easier recovery, less time in the hospital, less pain, and less scarring.
During the procedure, various specialized instruments are inserted into the small incisions, including a special camera called a laparoscope that allows the surgeon to view the uterus and surrounding organs. The uterus is surgically separated from the fallopian tubes and ovaries using the specialized tools, and is then removed through one of the small incisions. Like a traditional abdominal hysterectomy, sometimes the uterus body and the cervix are removed, but sometimes the cervix is left intact. The small incisions are the closed with only a few stitches.
Robotic Hysterectomy
The University of Maryland Medical Center is on medical institution that performs modified laparoscopic hysterectomy with specialized robotic surgical tools. Instead of using instruments that are operated manually, robotic instruments are inserted into the small abdominal incisions, including a very sophisticated camera that gives the surgeon a 3-D image of the abdominal cavity. The robotic instruments can make very precise movements and cuts, and do not transmit the natural tremor in a surgeon’s hands to the surgical tools. Like a laparoscopic hysterectomy, the recovery time is quicker and faster, with less bleeding and pain, versus a traditional abdominal hysterectomy.
