1. HYSTERECTOMY and its alternatives
By Dr Robert Sykes

2. General

3. Aims Basic anatomy understanding
decided we don’t need to know the proceedure in detail as we wont ever do it!
What a hysterectomy is...
what types we can do and why...
Indications, and alternatives in those circumstances

4. ANATOMY

5. HYSTERECTOMY
WE REMOVE THE
UTERUS!!!!!!

6. HYSTERECTOMY
In November 1843, Charles Clay performed the first hysterectomy in Manchester, England.
In 1929, Richardson, MD, performed the first total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), in which the entire uterus was removed (Johns, 1997).

7. HYSTERECTOMY
Estimated that, by the age of 55, one in five women will have had their womb (uterus) removed

8. HYSTERECTOMY Types approach Subtotal hysterectomy Total hysterectomy
Total hysterectomy with bilateral or unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
Wertheim's hysterectomy
approach
vaginal
abdominal
laparoscopic

9. HYSTERECTOMY
Types

10. TYPES: Subtotal/total hysterectomy
Total: body and cervix removed (common), cervix superfluous, risk of CA removed.
Subtotal:the body of the uterus removed, leaving the cervix in place (rare).
The woman must continue to have cervical smear tests.
Advantages of subtotal:
less disruption to the pelvic floor,
less damage to the urinary tract,
fewer infections.
cervix may play a role in sexual pleasure

11. TYPES: TAH & BSO To keep or not to keep - menopause v’s cancer risk?
sudden menopause because of the loss of ovarian hormones
… although TAH may speed menopause because of disruption to the ovarian blood supply.
CA risk is 200 BSO’s to prevent one case of cancer if no other risk factors
woman HAS to be final arbiter...

12. TYPES: Wertheim's hysterectomy
a radical hysterectomy.
body of uterus and cervix,
part of the vagina,
fallopian tubes,
usually the ovaries,
parametrium (the broad ligament)
lymph glands and fatty tissue in the pelvis.
Usually performed to remove cancer.

13. Hysterectomy approach

14. TAH +/- BSO Candidates: fibroids, abnormal or heavy bleeding,
PROCEEDURE:
expose the ligaments and blood vessels surrounding the uterus.
These are separated from the uterus.
In the process, the blood vessels are tied off to prevent bleeding and to help in healing.
The uterus then is cut off at the superior portion of the vagina and removed.
The top of the vaginal cuff is closed with sutures, and the surgical wound is closed in layers.
Candidates:
fibroids,
abnormal or heavy bleeding,
chronic pelvic pain,
endometriosis,
adenomyosis
uterine prolapse,
cancer of the reproductive organs
pelvic inflammatory disease.

15. Vaginal Hysterectomy incision made in the upper part of the vagina
expose the tissue and blood vessels around the cervix and uterus.
The tissues and vessels are cut and tied off for the uterus to be removed from the top of the vagina.
The upper part of the vagina where the surgical incision was made then is sutured.
Often, colporrhaphy (reconstructive surgery) is done to repair cystocele and/or rectocele.
Potential Candidates
fibroids,
abnormal or heavy bleeding,
chronic pelvic pain,
endometriosis,
uterine prolapse,
cancer of the reproductive organs
voluntary sterilization.

16. Laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy
Using the laparoscopic surgical tools, the tissues and vessels surrounding the uterus are cut and tied off.
The uterus then is removed through the vagina, and the top of the vaginal cuff is sutured.
The fallopian tubes and ovaries also may be removed during this surgical procedure.

17. Hysterectomy approach WHICH IS BEST?

18. LAVH vs TAH(Carter, 1994). patients undergoing LAVH have
shorter hospitalization
more rapid recuperation, less pain at 3 and 21 days
More rapid return to normal activities at 3 and 21 days
but they spend longer time in the operating room.
Carter JE, Ryoo J, Katz A: Laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy: a case control comparative study with total abdominal hysterectomy. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 1994 Feb; 1(2):

19. LAVH vs TAH(Carter, 1994). CONT…
Patients undergoing TAH
shorter operation time.
the hospital costs are much cheaper
patients who undergo LAVH usually return to work earlier and thus require less time off work.
Carter JE, Ryoo J, Katz A: Laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy: a case control comparative study with total abdominal hysterectomy. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 1994 Feb; 1(2):

20. But… LAVH vs VH (Lipscomb, 1997).
surgery time for the LAVH almost double that for vaginal hysterectomy
blood loss in LAVH significantly less cost for the LAVH group significantly greater
SO - VH may be the first choice in suitable patients, with only 10-15% of cases unsuitable (Kovac SR 1997).
Lipscomb GH: Laparoscopic-assisted hysterectomy: is it ever indicated? Clin Obstet Gynecol 1997 Dec; 40(4):
Kovac SR: Which route for hysterectomy? Evidence-based outcomes guide selection. Postgrad Med 1997 Sep; 102(3): 153-

21. complications

22. Hysterectomy complications:
surgical wound infection;
excessive bleeding;
injury to the bowel, bladder, or ureter;
or urinary tract infection.

23. And remember PAIN

24. COMPLICATIONS cont.. (Makinen et al, 2001)
Study in Finland during 1996,
10,110 hysterectomies,
consisting of 5875 TAH, 1801 VH, and 2434 LAVH
rate of overall complications of 17.2%, 23.3%, and 19%, respectively.
surgeon's expertise in reducing complications is key, especially in LAVH and VH, (Makinen, 2001).
Makinen J, Johansson J, Tomas C: Morbidity of hysterectomies by type of approach. Hum Reprod 2001 Jul; 16(7):

25. COMPLICATIONS cont.. (Makinen et al, 2001)
The most frequent complications were (TAH/VH/LAVH)
infections, occur in 10.5% TAH, 13% VH, and 9% LAVH.
Ureter injuries most common with LAVH (RR 7.2 to TAH)
bowel injuries most common with VH (RR 2.5 to TAH).
Severe hemorrhage occurred with frequencies of 2.1% TAH, 3.1% VH, and 2.7% LAVH

26. …and its alternatives…
INDICATIONS

27. Usual Indications Fibroids/DUB Endometriosis/adenomyosis Pain/PID
Prolapse
Cancer
PMT

28. FIBROIDS
Fibroids account for 1/3 of hysterectomies and 1/5 of gynecological visits.
Estimated that 20% of women over the age of 30 have at least one fibroid.
Previously operation was done at 12/40 size
Currently, surgery not recommended based on size alone in the absence of symptoms.
According to Reiter et al (1992), no increased incidence in operative morbidity exists in women with a fibroid uterus larger than 12 weeks (compared to less than 12 week size).

29. ALTERNATIVES in DUB tranexamic acid and mefanamic acid.
Hormone treatment eg COCP or norethisterone is sometimes used.
Other surgery - endometrial ablation is very good but not appropriate for women who want to have children.
For women who want contraception = the Mirena coil,
Iron tablets for anaemia. Plus duetary advice.
Myomectomy - relatively small fibroids.

30. Endometriosis 1/5th of hysterectomies (Lee, 1984).
> Endometrial tissue outside the cavity
> responds to monthly hormones
> internal bleeding
> inflammation of the surrounding areas
> scar tissue
> bands of adhesions.
Currently, no cure exists for endometriosis.
many women seek hysterectomy for pain relief
it does not provide a definite cure
one or both ovaries are preserved
may continue to experience problems with tissue left behind.

31. PROLAPSE
approximately 15% of hysterectomies.
Stresses on the pelvic muscles and ligaments
Main insult is childbirth
Also: straining, chronic coughing, obesity, postmenopause.
If mild may be free of symptoms - several techniques/advice provide temporary improvement and control
moderate-to-severe prolapse
may be symptomatic
heaviness and pressure; stress incontinence; urinary tract infections; problems with sex (Lee, 1984).
hysterectomy may provide a more functional and longer-lasting result

32. Cancer
INDICATIONS
cervical cancer,
endometrial
Ovarian cancer
cancer of the fallopian tube (very rare).
cervical cancer is usually treated by hysterectomy and/or radiotherapy.
The early stages of endometrial cancer can be treated with high doses of progestogen, and radiotherapy may be undertaken with surgery.
Ovarian cancer is almost always treated by surgery, but chemotherapy may also be used.