A Hysterectomy Surgery can mean simply the removal of the uterus, or it can mean removal of the uterus, cervix and ovaries. Although hysterectomy is frequently performed for fibroids (benign tumor-like growths inside the uterus itself made up of muscle and connective tissue), conservative options in treatment are available by doctors who are trained and skilled at alternatives. In 2003, over 600,000 hysterectomies were performed in the United States alone, of which over 90% were performed for benign conditions. Such rates being highest in the industrialized world has led to the major controversy that hysterectomies are being largely performed for unwarranted and unnecessary reasons.
What is Hysterectomy Surgery?
A Hysterectomy Surgery refers to an operation where a woman's uterus is surgically removed. This procedure spells the end of a woman's ability to become a mother. This may seem a rather drastic step to take, especially for women who want to have children. However, a hysterectomy becomes essential under certain circumstances. The term Hysterectomy is from Greek ὑστέρα hystera "womb" and εκτομία ektomia "a cutting out of. It may be total (removing the body, fundus, and cervix of the uterus; often called "complete") or partial (removal of the uterine body while leaving the cervix intact; also called "supracervical"). It is the most commonly performed gynecological surgical procedure.
Why Hysterectomy Surgery?
Hysterectomy Surgery is most often performed for the following reasons:
Uterine Fibroids: Are the common, benign (non cancerous) tumors that grow in the muscle of the uterus. More hysterectomies are done because of fibroids than any other problem of the uterus. Sometimes fibroids cause heavy bleeding or pain.
Endometriosis: Is another benign condition that affects the uterus. It is the second leading reason for hysterectomies. It occurs when endometrial tissue (the inside lining of the uterus) begins to grow on the outside of the uterus and on nearby organs. This condition may cause painful menstrual periods, abnormal vaginal bleeding and loss of fertility.
Uterine prolapse: Is a benign condition in which the uterus moves from its usual place down into the vagina. Uterine prolapse is due to weak and stretched pelvic ligaments and tissues, and can lead to urinary problems, pelvic pressure or difficulty with bowl movements. Childbirth, obesity and loss of estrogen after menopause may contribute to this problem.
Cancer: is the reason for about 10 percent of all hysterectomies. Endometrial cancer, uterine sarcoma, cervical cancer, and cancer of the ovaries or fallopian tubes often require hysterectomy. Depending on the type and extent of cancer, other kinds of treatment such as radiation or hormonal therapy may be used as well.
Hyperplasia: Is thought to come from too much estrogen and occurs when the lining of the uterus becomes too thick and causes abnormal bleeding.
Other reasons why hysterectomies are done include chronic pelvic pain, heavy bleeding and chronic pelvic inflammatory disease.
How is the Diagnosis for Hysterectomy Surgery Performed?
Prior to having a Hysterectomy Surgery for pelvic pain, women usually undergo more limited (less extensive) exploratory surgery procedures (such as laparoscopy) to rule out other causes of pain. Prior to having a hysterectomy for abnormal uterine bleeding, women require some type of sampling of the lining of the uterus (biopsy of the endometrial) to rule out cancer or pre-cancer of the uterus. This procedure is called endometrial sampling. Also, pelvic ultrasounds and/or pelvic computerized tomography (CT) tests can be done to make a firm diagnosis. In a woman with pelvic pain or bleeding, a trial of medication treatment is often given before a hysterectomy is considered.
What are the Types of Hysterectomy Surgery?
There are three main types of Hysterectomy Surgery, which is as under:
Radical Hysterectomy: The uterus, cervix and ovaries are removed.
Total Hysterectomy: The uterus and the cervix are removed.
Subtotal or Partial hysterectomy: The upper portion of the uterus is removed, leaving the cervix and ovaries intact.
And, there are several ways the surgery can be performed -- some methods more invasive than others:
Laparoscopic Assisted Hysterectomy: This is any hysterectomy using the vaginal approach with assistance from laparoscopic instruments inserted through tiny incisions in the abdomen.
Vaginal Hysterectomy: This Hysterectomy surgery is performed entirely through an incision made in the vagina.
Abdominal Hysterectomy: This Hysterectomy surgery is performed using an incision in the abdomen that can be either vertical from the area of the pubic bone up toward the belly button, or it may be horizontal along the bikini line.
How to Prepare for Hysterectomy Surgery?
Before you decide to have a hysterectomy, gather all of the information you can about the procedure. In addition to the different types of hysterectomies that are currently available, there are many alternatives to a hysterectomy, including non-surgical treatments and medications. There are also additional surgeries that do not require the removal of the uterus, ovaries or fallopian tubes. The following questions are designed to help you explore the type of Hysterectomy Surgery recommended for you and the alternative procedures that may be appropriate, as well as general questions that will help you make a well-informed decision.
In what ways will my life be different after this surgical procedure?
What is the proper name of the procedure?
What are the risks of the surgery?
What are the risks of anesthesia?
Are the risks for me greater than other patients for any reason?
Is this procedure necessary? What will happen if I say no to have surgery?
What type of anesthesia will I be given?
Is this procedure a cure?
How long will the benefits of the procedure last?
Will this be an inpatient or outpatient procedure?
What type of incision will be used? Will it be an open procedure or a minimally invasive, or laparoscopic, procedure?
What medications should I take the morning of my surgery?
When should I stop eating prior to my procedure?
What are the Common Procedures of Hysterectomy Surgery?
A Hysterectomy Surgery takes about one to two hours. You will be under general anesthesia during the surgery. Before the procedure, an intravenous (IV) catheter will be inserted into one of your veins to deliver fluids and medications. What happens next depends on the type of hysterectomy:
Abdominal Hysterectomy: The surgeon will make a 5-inch to 7-inch incision in your lower abdomen. The incision can be vertical (from the belly button to just above the pubic bone) or transverse (horizontal at the pubic-hair line, often called a "bikini incision"). The uterus is freed from its attachments to blood vessels and supportive tissues, and then is removed through the incision. Then the layers of the abdomen will be closed with sutures (stitches) and the incision may be closed with sutures or titanium (metal) staples. Staples or non-dissolving skin sutures usually are removed about one week after the surgery. The advantages of an abdominal hysterectomy are that the uterus can be removed even if a woman has internal scarring (adhesions) from previous surgery or her fibroids are large. The surgeon has a good view of the abdominal cavity and more room to work. Also, surgeons have the most experience with this type of hysterectomy. The abdominal incision is more painful than with vaginal hysterectomy and the recovery period is longer.
Vaginal Hysterectomy: With a vaginal hysterectomy, the surgeon makes an incision near the top of the vagina. The surgeon then reaches through this incision to cut and tie off the ligaments, blood vessels, and fallopian tubes. Once the uterus is cut free, it is removed through the vagina. The operation takes one to two hours. The hospital stay is usually one to three days, and the return to normal activities takes about four weeks. The advantages of this procedure are that it leaves no visible scar and is less painful. The disadvantage is that it is more difficult for the surgeon to see the uterus and surrounding tissue. This makes complications more common. Large fibroids cannot be removed using this technique. It is very difficult to remove the ovaries during a vaginal hysterectomy, so this approach may not be possible if the ovaries are involved. Any vaginal hysterectomy may have to be converted to an abdominal hysterectomy during surgery if complications develop.
Laparoscopically Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH): Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) is a surgical procedure using a laparoscope to guide the removal of the uterus and/or Fallopian tubes and ovaries through the vagina (birth canal). (A different procedure, called a laparoscopic hysterectomy, is entirely performed using a laparoscope and other instruments inserted through tiny abdominal incisions, and the uterus, Fallopian tubes etc. are removed in tiny portions.) Not all hysterectomies can or should be done by LAVH. In certain situations, a laparoscopic hysterectomy (see above) may be sufficient. In other cases, an abdominal hysterectomy or a vaginal hysterectomy (without laparoscopy) is indicated. The surgeon determines the appropriate procedure for each individual case based upon the reason for the hysterectomy and the medical history and condition of the patient.
What is the Post-operative Care following a Hysterectomy Surgery?
After the Hysterectomy Surgery, a woman will feel some degree of discomfort; this is generally greatest in abdominal hysterectomies because of the incision. Hospital stays vary from about two days (laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy) to five or six days (abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy). During the hospital stay, the doctor will probably order more blood tests. Return to normal activities such as driving and working takes anywhere from two to eight weeks, again depending on the type of surgery. Some women have emotional changes following a hysterectomy. Women who have had their ovaries removed will probably start hormone replacement therapy.
What is the Hysterectomy Surgery Recovery?
Patients generally wake up feeling tired and with a certain amount of pain - this will depend on several factors, including the type of hysterectomy, the reason for it, and the state of health of the patient. Most likely the patient will also be on a drip and a urinary catheter. Some patients will notice a tube coming out of their abdomen - this is a drainage tube to take away any blood around the wound.
Within a day or so patients are usually encouraged to walk; this is to reduce the risk of blood clots in the legs. By the second or third day most patients are walking around.
Most women who have had a vaginal hysterectomy go home after three to four days, while those who had an abdominal hysterectomy may require from five to about seven days.
It is important for the patient not to put anything in her vagina for at least the first six weeks - this includes douching, tampons or having sex.
In the majority of cases a follow-up appointment will be arranged for about six weeks after the operation.
For a period of six to eight weeks the patient's body is recovering, and she should not carry any heavy shopping or undertake physically demanding household tasks.
What are the Benefits of Hysterectomy Surgery?
The Hysterectomy Benefits are great in case of uterine cancer. The symptoms of discomfort and bleeding related to fibroids, uterine prolapse and endometriosis can be relieved easily after the surgery. Hysterectomy Benefits you from severe infections of the uterus, uncontrollable bleeding and an effective and efficient treatment for the cancer of the pelvic organs. Hysterectomy is done to cure a number of ailments like the geological cancer- the cancer of the cervix or uterus; endometriosis- the tissues lining the internal part if the uterus begins to grow outside of your uterus; fibroids- tumors of the uterus that leads to bleeding; uterine prolapse- uterus starts descending in the vagina.
Other Hysterectomy benefits include prevention of ovarian cancer. It is a life-saving step because it removes effective the malignant cells causing the cancer of the ovaries. You can also have hysterectomy to cure as well as avoid fibroid tumors. Hysterectomy completely eliminates the tumors. Hysterectomy is considered as a life saving measure as it is used to cease the heavy placental bleeding at the time of child birth or for eliminating cervical cancer as well as uterine cancer.
What are the Risks of Hysterectomy Surgery?
The possible complications of Hysterectomy Surgery include: infections, excessive bleeding, blood clots, and adverse effect to the anesthesia.
What is the Alternative to Hysterectomy Surgery?
Whether an alternative is appropriate for any individual woman is a decision she and her doctor should make together. Some alternative procedures to Hysterectomy Surgery include:
Embolization: During uterine artery embolization, interventional radiologists put a catheter into the artery that leads to the uterus and inject polyvinyl alcohol particles right where the artery leads to the blood vessels that nourish the fibroids. By killing off those blood vessels, the fibroids have no more blood supply, and they die off. Severe cramping and pain after the procedure is common, but serious complications are less than 5% and the procedure may protect fertility.
Myomectomy: A myomectomy is a surgery used to remove fibroids, thus avoiding a hysterectomy. Hysteroscopic myomectomy, in which a surgical hysteroscope (telescope) is inserted into the uterus through the vagina, can be done on an outpatient basis. If there are large fibroids, however, an abdominal incision is required. Patients typically are hospitalized for two to three days after the procedure and require up to six weeks recovery. Laparoscopic myomectomies are also being done more often. They only require three small incisions in the abdomen, and have much shorter hospitalization and recovery times. Once the fibroids have been removed, the surgeon must repair the wall of the uterus to eliminate future bleeding or infection.
Endometrial Ablation: In this surgical procedure, recommended for women with small fibroids, the entire lining of the uterus is removed. After undergoing endometrial ablation, patients are no longer fertile. The uterine cavity is filled with fluid and a hysteroscope is inserted to provide a clear view of the uterus. Then, the lining of the uterus is destroyed using a laser beam or electric voltage. The procedure is typically done under anesthesia, although women can go home the same day as the surgery. Another newer procedure involves using a balloon, which is filled with superheated liquid and inflated until it fills the uterus.
Advance Hysterectomy Surgery
Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: This procedure comes under the latest method of removing the uterus of women. A Robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy comes with decreased postoperative intravenous analgesia requirements, shorter length of hospital stay, quicker return to work and daily activities. It is performed by the removal of the uterus using robotic system by making 4-5 small incisions and instruments are placed in the lower abdomen through “ports”. The robotic system translates the surgeon’s hand movements outside the woman’s body into precise surgical movements inside the abdomen. This system provides more flexibility of hand movements than is possible with traditional laparoscopic surgery. Hospital stay is usually overnight and recovery time is approximately 2-3 weeks. Robotic assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy also permits very efficient suturing due to the precise placement and movement of the surgical tools, as well as the magnified 3-D views of the surgical area, which allows surgeons to more accurately inspect, dissect and repair the surgical area.
Why Hysterectomy Surgery in India?
Of late, India has become a hub for foreign patients coming for various medical treatments and surgeries including the Hysterectomy Surgery. The hospitals and medical centers in India are hygienic, and maintain the highest quality of medical services and amenities making the country most preferred destination in the world.
The Hysterectomy Surgery in India comes with some of the best medical facilities and through a team of highly skilled surgeons and doctors. India has the world class Gynecological surgeons with highly trained medical experts and skilled medical professional who deal with patients with utmost professionalism and care.
The hospitals and clinics rendering Hysterectomy Surgery in India are spread all over the country with presence of more than five thousand healthcare professionals treating with the most advanced medical amenities in the world. These are available at hospitals in the following cities with latest amenities and state-of-art-facilities.
Mumbai
Hyderabad
Kerala
Delhi
Pune
Goa
Bangalore
Nagpur
Jaipur
Chennai
Gurgaon
Chandigarh
What is the Cost of Hysterectomy Surgery in India?
Prices for Hysterectomy Surgery in India are normally 80% below the cost for the same performed in the USA. The cost of coming down to India for Hysterectomy Surgery including all the expenses still comes less to the cost incurred in US for the same treatment. One can have a fair idea of having the low cost medical treatments done in India and US.
Medical Treatment
Procedure Cost (US$)
United States
India
Abdominal Hysterectomy Surgery
18,000
3,300
LAVH
24,000
3,600
Vaginal Hysterectomy
16,000
2,800
Some of the common countries from which patients travel to India for surgery are:
USA
UK
Canada
Australia
Zealand
Nigeria
Kenya
Ethiopia
Uganda
Tanzania
Zambia
Congo
Lanka
Bangladesh
Pakistan
Afghanistan
Nepal
Uzbekhistan
ABOUT INDIA
Located in South Asia, bordered by Pakistan, Nepal, China and Bangladesh, India is South Asia's largest, sovereign, democratic republic. India has an edge over other countries when it comes to offering comprehensive, cost-effective and timely medical care: it also offers an exotic, adventure-filled or cultural -if you wish array of destinations to discover and revel in for the travelers. Indian cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Goa, Bangalore, Nagpur, Kerala, Delhi, Pune, Jaipur, Chennai, Gurgaon, and Chandigarh offers best medical tourism service.
Mumbai - Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. This port city (India's largest and busiest) accounts for a major share of the government's revenue, and has one of the world's largest harbour. There are many things to love about Mumbai. One is simply the geographical names, like The Queen's Necklace and Elephanta Island, all with roots in the British Empire.
Hyderabad - Also known as City of Nizams. The city of Hyderabad has its own individual character, which is evident in the beautiful, ancient palaces and the equally modern, and state-of-the-art offices and buildings. Medical tourism at hospitals in Hyderabad combines care for your health with international tourism. The primary reason behind its surging popularity is better healthcare services at an affordable budget.
Goa - Popularly known as the ‘Rome of the East’, Goa boost of natural, magnificent churches and exquisite works of man. Plunge into the clear blue water of the large pool, or soak in the blissful sunshine on the picturesque island. Goa is an interesting location for getting your health propped up and getting those long postponed surgeries done. You have modern facilities, short waiting times and very affordable prices for procedures, hospital services and medicines.
Bangalore - The progressive and modern city of Bangalore is the state capital, being located within India's Karnataka state. Bangalore is often referred to as the country 'Garden City', due to its high concentration of parks and green spaces. Bangalore has few of the world’s best doctors and medical practitioners, who have been trained by the rigorous Indian medical education system as well as in countries like UK and USA.
Nagpur - Nagpur City has many distinctions. It is also the second greenest in India and is located at the very center of the heartland, almost equidistant from Kolkata, Chennai and New Delhi and Mumbai. The present city was founded in the early 18th century by Bhakt Buland, a Gond prince of the kingdom of Deogad in the Chhindwara district. The Nagpur District has a varied culture, as well as being in the central part of India, the market in Nagpur is flooded with products from all over India. Nagpur has few of the world’s best doctors and medical practitioners, who have been trained in countries like UK and USA.
Kerala - Natural beauty, clean air and primordial greenery amidst the vast expanse of water and sky, typifies the state of Kerala – better known as God's own country. Kerala is famous for its alternative medical therapies such as Ayurveda, which help to rejuvenate and revitalize the body. The region is also home to India’s only virgin tropical rain forest – the Silent Valley National Park, supporting an overwhelming range of life forms, many of which are highly endangered, and endemic to this part of the planet.
Delhi - "Welcome to The Capital City of India - New Delhi" Delhi is famous as Capital city of India is located in North India. Delhi is truly a symbol of the old and the new; a blend of ancient well preserved monuments and temples along with jam-packed burger joints and up market shopping malls. Delhi has state of the art Hospitals and the best qualified doctors.
Pune - Once referred to as the Oxford of the east, Punecontinues to be a stronghold for academics and culture. An array of factors like availability of efficient and experienced doctors, comparatively low treatment costs, hospital facilities of international standards and many more have made Pune one of the top destinations for medical tourism.
Jaipur - Jaipur is one of the most popular destinations on a tourist's itinerary. The magnificent forts, beautiful havelis and colourful bazaars make Jaipur a popular tourist destination among tourists. Jaipur has pioneered health and medical tourism in India.
Chennai - Chennai is one of the most developed urban centers in the Indian subcontinent. The city forms the capital of Tamil Nadu state and is the fourth largest metropolitan city in India. They have some of the very best hospitals and treatment centers in the world. Each hospital is equipped with state of the art facilities. The technology brought into practice is the very latest, including robotic surgery.
Gurgaon - Located in the National Capital Region, Gurgaon is one of the most rapidly growing cities in Greater Delhi. In the last few years Gurgaon has boomed as the hub of IT and other new-age businesses. Gurgoan is the latest destination for Medical Tourism in India as it is the latest modern upcoming city near Delhi.
Chandigarh - Located near the foothills of Shivalik range of the Himalayas, Chandigarh is one of the most beautiful and happening cities of India. Chandigarh has great potential for Medical tourism as the unpolluted and excellent environs give many opportunities to patients to recover from their illness.
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