Hysterectomy, a common procedure, involves removal of the uterus through a surgery. Specialists at NCCRM may also get rid of surrounding organs, like the fallopian tubes and cervix.
Many women suffer from heavy bleeding and/or pain due to reasons like painful, heavy periods, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids. They may opt for a hysterectomy to resolve these issues.
Minimally invasive hysterectomy, or MIH, is when surgeons do the procedure using laparoscopic techniques. This is beneficial for women because:
- There is less pain
- Shorter recovery time
- Small or almost invisible scars
- Shorter hospital stay
The Five Types of MIH
Vaginal hysterectomy (VH)
Experts rank vaginal hysterectomy right on top when it comes to MIH. That’s because it involves the least risk and cost. It is an original, natural orifice surgery. However, at times VH is not an option if the size of the uterus and/or vagina aren’t suitable.
Laparoscopic supra-cervical hysterectomy (LSH)
Surgeons make a tiny incision in the navel and abdomen. Through that, they insert surgical instruments and a laparoscope. They remove the uterus through one of the incisions. This surgery doesn’t require much and a patient gets discharged in a day.
Robotic-assisted total hysterectomy
In this procedure, a surgeon uses a console. It is similar to a total laparoscopic hysterectomy, described below. Only in this procedure, a da Vinci robotic surgical system gets added. Once the laparoscopic instruments are inside the woman’s abdomen, they get attached to the da Vinci system.
Total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH)
Here too, doctors release a woman within 24 hours, similar to LSH. The process is also similar to LSH, with the only difference being that the entire uterus, which also consists of the cervix, is removed through the vagina.
Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH)
Doctors will do a small cut and insert a camera to watch over the uterus and organs surrounding it. The uterus is removed through that incision. A vaginal incision is also made for removing the other organs surrounding the uterus.
