A laparoscopic hysterectomy refers to a minimally invasive surgery that helps remove the uterus. It helps in the treatment of different gynecological conditions like endometriosis, uterine fibroids, gynecological cancers and abnormal bleeding. In comparison to traditional open surgery that involves a large incision, laparoscopic surgery uses small incisions and a tiny camera (laparoscope) in order to guide the procedure. Let us know more about the procedure as well as the different kinds of laparoscopic hysterectomy.
What Happens After a Laparoscopic Hysterectomy?
During a laparoscopic hysterectomy, the surgeon makes a few small incisions in the abdomen. Through one of these incisions, a laparoscope (a thin tube with a camera and light) gets inserted to offer a detailed view of the uterus as well as the surrounding areas. This enables the surgeon to perform the procedure in a precise manner. Other special surgical tools are passed through the other incisions to help remove the uterus.
The surgery is usually performed under general anaesthesia. This means that the patient is pain-free and asleep during the procedure. After the removal of the uterus, the incisions are closed with stitches,s and the patient gets moved to the recovery room. As the incisions are smaller in size compared to the ones in traditional surgery, patients usually experience less post-operative pain and can return to their regular activities sooner.
Different Kinds of Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
Some of the different types of laparoscopic hysterectomy have been mentioned below.
- Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
A total laparoscopic hysterectomy is recommended to remove the entire uterus. This is the most common type of laparoscopic hysterectomy. It can treat various gynaecological conditions like abnormal bleeding, uterine fibroids or cancer. The surgeon will remove the uterus into small pieces, making the surgery less invasive and enabling faster recovery.
- Subtotal or Supracervical Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
In a subtotal or supracervical laparoscopic hysterectomy, only the uterus gets removed, and the cervix remains intact. Doctors recommend this procedure when the cervix is healthy, and the uterus is causing problems.
Benefits of Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
The benefits of laparoscopic hysterectomy are listed below.
- Less Pain: As the incisions are smaller, there is less tissue trauma. This results in less pain after surgery.
- Faster Recovery: Patients usually spend less time in the hospital and can return to regular activities faster, generally within 2-4 weeks, while it is 6-8 weeks for open surgery.
- Minimal Scarring: The small incisions cause minimal scarring. This is less noticeable than the scars of open surgery.
Laparoscopic hysterectomy serves as a modern and effective solution for women suffering from uterine issues. So, if you want to seek treatment, you can consult Dr. Sukhamoy Barik, the leading laparoscopic hysterectomy surgeon in Dumdum.