Monday, July 17, 2017

Facts Relating To Hysterectomy Waco Residents Need To Be Aware Of

By Charles Edwards


A number of medical conditions are known to lead to the removal of the uterus in a woman, a procedure commonly referred to as hysterectomy. Before undergoing hysterectomy Waco residents need to understand some vital information beforehand. Among the most important things to know is the fact that an individual that undergoes the operation loses their ability to carry a pregnancy.

Broadly, hysterectomy is carried under two circumstances. The first is during emergencies related to labor and delivery. Excessive bleeding from the uterus is a leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. While there are a number of conservative methods that can be used, these may fail in some instances leading to removal of the vital organ. The other category is where the procedure is done electively (at a scheduled time).

Elective procedures are by far the more common. Some of the reasons that may create a need for them include uterine tumors, cervical cancers and prolonged or excessive bleeding from the uterus due to any other reasons. It is important that alternatives are first considered by a decision to have the operation is made. In a significant proportion of these cases, patients have a choice to turn down the surgery.

Like any major surgical operation, there are a number of thing that need to be undertaken as preparation for an individual undergoing the surgery. The extent of the disease needs to be determined as this will in turn dictate the approach to be undertaken by the operating surgeon. Some of the investigations that may be done include imaging studies such as ultrasound and CT scan, blood tests such as hemoglobin.

Your doctor will typically give you some instructions on conditions that are to be fulfilled before the procedure is carried out. If you are taking blood thinners, these should be stopped a few weeks before the day of the operation. Smokers also need to stop using tobacco products a few weeks in advance. All these are aimed at reducing the risk of bleeding from the operation.

One of two approaches will be used to access the uterus. These are the abdominal and the trans-vaginal routes. The choice is determined by a number of factors including the condition affecting the uterus, the size of the lesion and the surgical skill of attending surgeons among others. The trans-vaginal route is highly preferred because it does not leave visible scars after healing takes place.

The abdominal approach allows the surgeon to use the open technique or to conduct the operation laparoscopically. With the open approach, a larger incision is required leading to a higher risk of complications such as excessive bleeding and injury to other structures. The laparoscopic approach, on the other hand, requires smaller incisions hence a lower risk of complications.

This operation usually takes one to two hours. The duration may be longer if complications are encountered. Either general or regional anesthesia is chosen depending on the preference of the surgical team. Regardless of the type of anesthesia used, recovery from the operation is quick and the majority of patients are released from hospital within three days. Full recovery takes a couple of weeks.




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