What is Abdominal Hysterectomy
Abdominal hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the womb (uterus). The uterus is the muscular organ that houses a developing baby. This surgery may be done if:
- You have cancer.
- You have growths (tumors or fibroids) in the uterus.
- You have long-term (chronic) pain.
- You are bleeding.
- Your uterus has slipped down into your vagina (uterine prolapse).
- You have a condition in which the tissue that lines the uterus grows outside of its normal location (endometriosis).
- You have an infection in your uterus.
- You are having problems with your menstrual cycle.
Depending on why you are having this procedure, you may also have other reproductive organs removed. These could include:
- The part of your vagina that connects with your uterus (cervix).
- The organs that make eggs (ovaries).
- The tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus (fallopian tubes).
Tell a health care provider about:
- Any allergies you have.
- All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
- Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
- Any blood disorders you have.
- Any surgeries you have had.
- Any medical conditions you have.
- Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
What are the risks?
Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:
- Bleeding.
- Infection.
- Allergic reactions to medicines or dyes.
- Damage to other structures or organs.
- Nerve injury.
- Decreased interest in sex or pain during sex.
- Blood clots that can break free and travel to your lungs.
What happens before the procedure?
Staying hydrated
Follow instructions from your health care provider about hydration, which may include:
- Up to 2 hours before the procedure – you may continue to drink clear liquids, such as water, clear fruit juice, black coffee, and plain tea
Eating and drinking restrictions
Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating and drinking, which may include:
- 8 hours before the procedure – stop eating heavy meals or foods such as meat, fried foods, or fatty foods.
- 6 hours before the procedure – stop eating light meals or foods, such as toast or cereal.
- 6 hours before the procedure – stop drinking milk or drinks that contain milk.
- 2 hours before the procedure – stop drinking clear liquids.
Medicines
- Ask
your health care provider about:
- Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
- Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood.Do nottake these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider instructs you not to.
- You may be given antibiotic medicine to help prevent infection. Take it as told by your health care provider.
- You may be asked to take laxatives to prevent constipation.
General instructions
- Ask your health care provider how your surgical site will be marked or identified.
- You may be asked to shower with a germ-killing soap.
- Plan to have someone take you home from the hospital.
- Do notuse any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
- You may have an exam or testing.
- You may have a blood or urine sample taken.
- You may need to have an enema to clean out your rectum and lower colon.
- This procedure can affect the way you feel about yourself. Talk to your health care provider about the physical and emotional changes this procedure may cause.
What happens during the procedure?
- To
lower your risk of infection:
- Your health care team will wash or sanitize their hands.
- Your skin will be washed with soap.
- Hair may be removed from the surgical area.
- An IV tube will be inserted into one of your veins.
- You
will be given one or more of the following:
- A medicine to help you relax (sedative).
- A medicine to make you fall asleep (general anesthetic).
- Tight-fitting (compression) stockings will be placed on your legs to promote circulation.
- A thin, flexible tube (catheter) will be inserted to help drain your urine.
- The surgeon will make a cut (incision) through the skin in your lower belly. The incision may go side-to-side or up-and-down.
- The surgeon will move aside the body tissue that covers your uterus. The surgeon will then carefully take out your uterus along with any of the other organs that need to be removed.
- Bleeding will be controlled with clamps or sutures.
- The surgeon will close your incision with stitches (sutures), skin glue, or adhesive strips.
- A bandage (dressing) will be placed over the incision.
The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.
What happens after the procedure?
- You will be given pain medicine as needed.
- Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored until the medicines you were given have worn off.
- You will need to stay in the hospital to recover for one to two days. Ask your health care provider how long you will need to stay in the hospital after your procedure.
- You may have a liquid diet at first. You will most likely return to your usual diet the day after surgery.
- You will still have the urinary catheter in place. It will likely be removed the day after surgery.
- You may have to wear compression stockings. These stockings help to prevent blood clots and reduce swelling in your legs.
- You will be encouraged to walk as soon as possible. You will also use a device or do breathing exercises to keep your lungs clear.
- You may need to use a sanitary napkin for vaginal discharge.
Summary
- Abdominal hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the womb (uterus). The uterus is the muscular organ that houses a developing baby.
- This procedure can affect the way you feel about yourself. Talk to your health care provider about the physical and emotional changes this procedure may cause.
- You will be given medicines for pain after the procedure.
- You will need to stay in the hospital to recover. Ask your health care provider how long you will need to stay in the hospital after your procedure.
Abdominal Hysterectomy, Care After
What can I expect after the procedure?
After your procedure, it is common to have:
- Pain.
- Fatigue.
- Poor appetite.
- Less interest in sex.
- Vaginal bleeding and discharge. You may need to use a sanitary napkin after this procedure.
Follow these instructions at home:
Bathing
- Do nottake baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves. Ask your health care provider if you can take showers. You may only be allowed to take sponge baths for bathing.
- Keep the bandage (dressing) dry until your health care provider says it can be removed.
Incision care
- Follow
instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your
incision. Make sure you:
- Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Change your dressing as told by your health care provider.
- Leave stitches (sutures), skin glue, or adhesive strips in place. These skin closures may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do notremove adhesive strips completely unless your health care provider tells you to do that.
- Check
your incision area every day for signs of infection. Check for:
- Redness, swelling, or pain.
- Fluid or blood.
- Warmth.
- Pus or a bad smell.
Activity
- Do gentle, daily exercises as told by your health care provider. You may be told to take short walks every day and go farther each time.
- Do not lift anything that is heavier than 10 lb (4.5 kg), or the limit that your health care provider tells you, until he or she says that it is safe.
- Do notdrive or use heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.
- Do notdrive for 24 hours if you were given a medicine to help you relax (sedative).
- Follow your health care provider’s instructions about exercise, driving, and general activities. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
Lifestyle
- Do notdouche, use tampons, or have sex for at least 6 weeks or as told by your health care provider.
- Do notdrink alcohol until your health care provider approves.
- Drink enough fluid to keep your urine clear or pale yellow.
- Try to have someone at home with you for the first 1–2 weeks to help.
- Do notuse any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. These can delay healing. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
General instructions
- Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
- Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen. These medicines can cause bleeding.
- To
prevent or treat constipation while you are taking prescription pain
medicine, your health care provider may recommend that you:
- Drink enough fluid to keep your urine clear or pale yellow.
- Take over-the-counter or prescription medicines.
- Eat foods that are high in fiber, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans.
- Limit foods that are high in fat and processed sugars, such as fried and sweet foods.
- Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if:
- You have chills or fever.
- You have redness, swelling, or pain around your incision.
- You have fluid or blood coming from your incision.
- Your incision feels warm to the touch.
- You have pus or a bad smell coming from your incision.
- Your incision breaks open.
- You feel dizzy or light-headed.
- You have pain or bleeding when you urinate.
- You have persistent diarrhea.
- You have persistent nausea and vomiting.
- You have abnormal vaginal discharge.
- You have a rash.
- You have any type of abnormal reaction or you develop an allergy to your medicine.
- Your pain medicine does not help.
Get help right away if:
- You have a fever and your symptoms suddenly get worse.
- You have severe abdominal pain.
- You have shortness of breath.
- You faint.
- You have pain, swelling, or redness in your leg.
- You have heavy vaginal bleeding with blood clots.
Summary
- After your procedure, it is common to have pain, fatigue and vaginal discharge.
- Do not take baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves. Ask your health care provider if you can take showers. You may only be allowed to take sponge baths for bathing.
- Follow your health care provider’s instructions about exercise, driving, and general activities. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
- Do not lift anything that is heavier than 10 lb (4.5 kg), or the limit that your health care provider tells you, until he or she says that it is safe.
- Try to have someone at home with you for the first 1–2 weeks to help.
