A hysterectomy is the removal of either part of the uterus or the full uterus, and it may include the surgical removal of the fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix and part of the vagina. This procedure results in a cessation of menstrual periods and the ability for a woman to become pregnant. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or ACOG, reports that hysterectomy is the second most common major surgical procedure done on women of childbearing age. A variety of complications may arise during the hysterectomy recovery period.
Bowel Blockage
The ACOG indicates that bowel blockage from scarring of the intestines may occur at any time after a hysterectomy. Bowel blockage symptoms include abdominal distention, a feeling of abdominal fullness, abdominal pain and cramping, abdominal gas, bad breath, constipation, diarrhea and vomiting, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Physicians may relieve the bowel blockage through surgery.
Blood Clots
A blood clot in the wound may form after a hysterectomy, according to the ACOG. Blood clots, or clumps of blood, may block the flow of blood in a vein. MayoClinic.com reports that blood clots may cause redness, pain and swelling in the affected area or may break off and travel to the heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke.
Urinary Tract Injury
Urinary tract injury may occur as a complication of hysterectomy, according to the New York State Department of Health. Signs and symptoms of a urinary tract injury may be fever, blood in the urine and pain in the hip or abdomen, according to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Secondary complications may result from a urinary tract injury, including the formation of a fistula, narrowing of the ureter or persistent leakage of urine.
