| Having an abdominal hysterectomy
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Your specialist has recommended
that you have a hysterectomy and this leaflet provides some standard
information and advice about the procedure. However, you should
always follow the instructions of your own specialist.
If you have any unanswered questions or concerns, please do not
hesitate to ask your specialist or nurse for more information.
It is natural to feel anxious, but often knowing what to expect
can help. |
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| What is hysterectomy? |
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A hysterectomy is a commonly
performed operation to remove the uterus (womb). The procedure
may also involve removal of one or both of the fallopian tubes
and one or both of the ovaries, depending on the condition that
is being treated.
A hysterectomy usually requires a hospital stay of around five
days. |
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| About the operation |
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For an abdominal hysterectomy,
the uterus is removed through an incision in the lower abdomen.
This incision is either horizontally just above the pubic bone
(around the top of a bikini brief) or vertically from just below
the umbilicus (belly button) down to the pubic bone.
The operation routinely lasts about an hour. It is usually performed
under general anaesthetic, which means you will be asleep during
the procedure. If you would like more information about general
anaesthesia, please see a separate leaflet. |
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| Preparing for your operation
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Once at the hospital, you
may be asked about your medical history and any previous experience
of hospital treatment. Your answers will help them in planning
your care whilst you are in hospital.
Before you come into hospital for your hysterectomy, you will
also be asked to:
- Have a bath or shower on the day of your admission
- Remove any rings, make-up or nail varnish. Rings
and earrings that you'd prefer not to remove can usually be
covered with adhesive tape
- Go without food for six hours before the operation.
You can usually take sips of water until two hours before.
More specific advice will be given in your admission confirmation
letter
When you arrive at the hospital, a nurse will explain how you
will be cared for during your stay. The surgeon and anaesthetist
will also visit you. This is a good time to ask any outstanding
questions about your treatment.
The nurse will help you prepare for theatre. You may be asked
to put on support stockings to help maintain the blood flow in
the veins of your legs. These will feel tight, but they do help
prevent blood clots. |
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| Consent |
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Before going to theatre
you will be given a consent form to sign. By doing this, you confirm
that you understand what the procedure involves, including the
benefits and risks, and give your permission for it to go ahead.
Please see the back of this leaflet for further information about
the possible side-effects and complications of this procedure.
You need to know about these in order to give your informed consent.
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| What are the risks? |
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| Hysterectomy is a commonly
performed procedure. For most people, the benefits in terms of
improved symptoms are greater than the disadvantages. However,
all surgery does carry some element of risk. This can be divided
into the risk of side-effects and the risk of complications. |
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| Side-effects |
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These are the unwanted but
mostly temporary effects of a successful treatment. Common side-effects
of hysterectomy include some pain and discomfort. There may also
be some bruising around the lower abdomen. Feeling or being sick
as a result of the anaesthetic or painkillers is also quite common,
although medicines are available to help avoid this.
In the longer term, a hysterectomy may decrease your sex drive,
especially if your ovaries are removed. It's worth discussing
this with your doctor so that you know what to expect and get
advice about possible treatments, including hormone replacement
therapy. |
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| Complications |
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This is when problems occur
during or after the operation. They are much rarer than most side-effects.
The possible complications of any operation include an unexpected
reaction to the anaesthetic or developing a blood clot, usually
in a vein in the leg (deep vein thrombosis). The complications
specific to a hysterectomy are excessive bleeding during or soon
after the operation, infection, and damage to other organs and
tissues in the abdomen. These complications may require further
treatment such as returning to theatre to stop bleeding or antibiotics
to deal with an infection.
The chance of complications depends on the exact type of operation
you are having and other factors such as your general health.
You should ask your surgeon to explain how these risks apply to
you. |
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| After your operation |
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You will be taken from the
operating theatre to a recovery room, where you will come round
from the anaesthetic under close supervision.
After this, you will return to your room, where a nurse will make
you comfortable. She will assess the operation site and monitor
your blood pressure and pulse at regular intervals. You will be
wearing a sanitary towel to absorb any vaginal bleeding, which
is usually similar to a light period.
You will have a catheter in place after surgery as most women
experience temporary difficulty passing urine after this procedure.
The catheter drains urine out of the bladder and into a bag beside
your bed. After abdominal hysterectomy, you may also have tubes
running from under the skin in the area of the operation. These
drain any fluid out of the operation site into another bag or
jar. You will also find a drip in your arm to keep you hydrated.
This will be removed when you've started drinking enough fluid.
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| Recovery |
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You will need to rest until
the effects of the general anaesthetic have passed. Your surgeon
will visit you to answer any questions you have about the operation.
The anaesthetist will prescribe painkillers for the first few
days after the operation. Suffering from pain could slow down
your recovery, so please discuss any discomfort you have with
your doctors or nurses.
When you feel ready, you can begin to drink and eat, starting
with clear fluids such as water or apple juice.
The catheter will usually be removed within 48 hours. You may
experience some discomfort to begin with, such as the constant
urge to urinate and some dribbling. This should pass within 24
hours.
You may find that you don't open your bowels for up to five days
after the operation, but should avoid straining when you go to
the toilet. If you need them, laxatives can be provided. Your
nurse will advise you about getting out of bed, bathing, diet
and gentle exercises.
The clips or stitches that seal the incision on your lower abdomen
will be removed on around the fifth day following the operation.
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| Physiotherapy |
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| If required, a physiotherapist
will visit you in the first few days after your operation to discuss
gentle exercises that you can do at home. These will help speed
up your recovery. The physiotherapist will provide further information
materials for you to take home. |
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| Going home |
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On discharge, the nurse
will advise you on caring for the stitches, hygiene and bathing.
You will be given a contact telephone number for the hospital
and a date for a follow-up appointment with your surgeon. This
will be about six weeks later. |
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| After you return home |
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You will need to take it
easy and should expect to tire easily to begin with. Avoid strenuous
exercise and lifting. You shouldn't drive until you feel confident
that you could perform an emergency stop without discomfort ¡V
probably no less than three weeks after your operation.
At your follow-up appointment, your surgeon will advise you when
you can resume your other normal activities, including sport and
sexual intercourse. A full recovery can take up to twelve weeks.
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| Further information |
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National Women's Health
Information Center
http://www.4woman.gov/faq/hysterectomy.htm
WebMD
http://my.webmd.com/encyclopedia/article/1840.52431
American College of Surgeons
http://www.facs.org/public_info/operation/hysterectomy.pdf
Hysterectomy Educational Resources and Services (HERS)
http://www.hersfoundation.com/ |
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Healthwise (Health Information Resource
Centre)
Tel : (852) 2849 2400
Fax : (852) 2849 2900
Email : info@healthwise.org.hk
Homepage : http://www.healthwise.org.hk/
This leaflet is for information only. For a detailed
opinion or personal advice, please consult with your own
doctor |
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