Abdominal Hysterectomy

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• An abdominal hysterectomy (AH) is surgery to take out your uterus (womb). The uterus is the reproductive organ in a woman's body where a baby grows during pregnancy. Your reproductive organs work together to help you conceive, grow, and give birth to a baby. Your cervix is the narrow part of your uterus that is next to your vagina. During an AH, your uterus is removed through an incision (cut) in your lower abdomen (stomach). Other organs may be removed depending on the type of surgery you are having. After an abdominal hysterectomy, you will not be able to have a baby.
  
  
• You may need an AH if you have a tumor (growth) in your uterus or other reproductive organs. These tumors may or may not have cancer in them. You may need an AH if you have an infection in your uterus caused by germs called bacteria. An AH may be used to treat very bad pain caused by a disease called endometriosis. You may also have an AH if you have problems with your menses (a woman's monthly period). You may need an urgent AH if you cannot stop bleeding after you give birth. After an AH, you may have less pain and bleeding. If you have cancer, an AH may help prevent it from spreading to other parts of your body.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• You may get a fever or an infection. You may feel depressed (very sad). You may feel pain during sex or may not want to have sex as much as before surgery. Your may not be able to control when you urinate. The nerves in your abdomen may be injured and the muscles of your abdomen may become weak. The muscles in your vagina may weaken and cause your bladder or bowel to slide into it. Your bladder or bowels may become damaged and your bowels may become blocked. If you have cancer, you may need another surgery if all of the cancer cells are not removed.
  
  
• You may bleed so much that you need a blood transfusion. You may bleed near your organs and form blood clots. Blood clots may move to other parts of your body such as your lungs and you may die. After an abdominal hysterectomy, you will not be able to have a baby. Without a hysterectomy, you may continue to have pain and bleeding. These and other symptoms may become worse. If you have cancer in your uterus and do not have surgery, it may spread to other organs. Call your caregiver if you have questions or concerns about your surgery, medicine, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Before your surgery:

• Informed consent: You have the right to understand your health condition in words that you know. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your condition. Your doctor should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives caregivers permission to do certain tests, treatments, or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to you. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen.
  
  
• IV: An IV is a tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. This tube is capped or connected to tubing and liquid.
  
  
• Medicines:
  
  
  • Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by germs called bacteria.
    
    
  • Blood thinners: This medicine helps stop clots from forming in your blood. Blood thinners may be given before, during, and after a surgery or procedure. Blood thinners make it easier for you to bleed or bruise. If you shave, use an electric shaver. Use a soft toothbrush to help keep your gums from bleeding.
  
  
• Pressure stockings: You may need to wear special stockings that put pressure on your legs. Wearing pressure stockings may help push blood up to your heart and help keep clots from forming.
  
  
• Anesthesia: Anesthesia is medicine to make you comfortable during surgery. Caregivers work with you to decide which anesthesia is best and whether you will be awake or completely asleep. Do not make important decisions for 24 hours after having anesthesia. Also, do not drive or use heavy equipment. An adult may need to drive you home and stay with you after you have had anesthesia.
  
  
  • General anesthesia: This is medicine that may be given in your IV or as a gas that you breathe. You may wear a face mask or have a tube placed in your mouth and throat. This tube is called an endotracheal tube or ET tube. Usually you are asleep before caregivers put the tube into your throat. The ET tube is usually removed before you wake up. You are completely asleep and free from pain during surgery.
    
    
  • Spinal or epidural anesthesia: This is medicine put into your back to numb you below the waist. With spinal anesthesia, the medicine is given through a shot. Feeling returns in about two hours. Epidural anesthesia is put into your back through a tiny tube. The tube may be left in place to give you more medicine later if needed. After epidural anesthesia, feeling returns to your legs when the medicine wears off.
  
  
• Foley catheter: Your caregiver will put a foley catheter into your bladder to drain your urine into a bag. This is usually done in the surgery room after you are asleep. The bladder is an organ where urine is kept.

During your surgery:

• Your caregiver makes an incision (cut) on your abdomen. The cut may be in the middle of your lower abdomen from the belly button going down. It may also be made across your lower abdomen a few inches below the belly button. Your caregiver carefully cuts through your fat and muscle tissue until he sees your uterus. He separates your uterus and cervix from the upper part of your vagina. Your caregiver uses special tools to remove your uterus.
  
  
• If you have a total abdominal hysterectomy, then your entire uterus including the cervix is removed. If you are having a subtotal (supracervical) hysterectomy, then your uterus but not your cervix is removed. In a radical hysterectomy, your entire uterus plus part of your vagina and nearby tissues are removed. During surgery, your caregiver may remove other reproductive organs if they are infected or have cancer in them. Lymph nodes (organs made of tissue that fight infection) may also be removed. Your caregiver will close your cut with stitches or staples and covered with bandages. Your caregiver may put bandages soaked with medicine into your vagina. Pieces of tissue or organs removed from your body may be sent to a lab for testing.

After your surgery: You will be taken to a room where you can rest until you are fully awake. Caregivers will watch you closely for any problems. Do not get out of bed until your caregiver says it is OK. After your caregiver says it is OK, you will be taken back to your hospital room.

• Blood tests: You may need blood taken for tests. The blood can be taken from a blood vessel in your hand, arm, or the bend in your elbow. It is tested to see how your body is doing. It may give your caregiver more information about your blood loss and whether you may need a transfusion.
  
  
• Diet: You may be able to eat when bowel sounds are heard. Your caregiver will listen to your stomach for bowel sounds using a stethoscope. You may be given ice chips at first, and then liquids such as water, broth, juice, or soda pop. If you do not have problems after drinking liquids, caregivers may then give you soft foods. Some examples of soft foods are ice cream, applesauce, or custard. Once you can eat soft food easily, you may begin eating your usual diet.
  
  
• Medicines:
  
  
  • Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain. Medicine may be given regularly, or may only be given if you ask caregivers for it. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease enough for you to feel better. Do not wait to ask for your pain medicine until the pain is very bad. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it. Ask your caregiver for help getting out of bed if you feel tired or dizzy.
    
    
  • Antinausea medicine: This medicine may be given to calm your stomach and control vomiting (throwing up). Pain medicine may upset your stomach and make you feel like vomiting. Because of this, pain medicine and anti-nausea medicine are often given at the same time.
  
  
• Foley catheter: Your foley catheter may make you feel like you have to urinate. Relax and the catheter will drain the urine for you. When the catheter is taken out, you can urinate on your own.
  
  
  • Do not pull on the catheter because this will make you hurt or bleed.
    
    
  • Do not kink the catheter because the urine will not drain.
    
    
  • Do not lift the bag of urine above the catheter. If you do this, the urine will flow back into your bladder. This can cause an infection.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Link to Page

Print Page

Email Page