Consumer Information

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.

GETTING READY:

Before your surgery:

Your caregiver may ask you about your symptoms. He may ask you about your current and past medical conditions. Tell your caregiver if you have had surgery in the past. Tell him if you know or think you are pregnant. Your caregiver may do a pelvic exam. In a pelvic exam, your caregiver inserts a gloved finger into your vagina. He may also use a special tool called a speculum to help see your cervix. You may have a Pap smear where cells are removed from your cervix and tested.
Your caregiver may tell you to stop taking birth control pills or certain vitamins before your surgery. He may also tell you to stop taking medicine for pain or inflammation (redness and swelling). Your caregiver may want you to start taking iron or hormone pills. Always follow your caregiver's instructions on when to take your medicine. If you smoke, your caregiver may tell you to stop smoking before your surgery.
You may need to have blood and imaging tests done. You may have a urine or blood test to see if you are pregnant. A chest x-ray, pelvic ultrasound, or abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan may also be done. Ask your caregiver for more information about tests that you may need.

The night before your surgery:

Ask caregivers about directions for eating and drinking.
Your bowel may need to be emptied and cleaned out before your surgery. Ask your caregiver for information on how to do this at home.

The day of your surgery:

Write down the correct date, time, and location of your surgery.
You or a close family member will be asked to sign a legal piece of paper (consent form). It gives your caregiver permission to do the procedure or surgery. It also explains the problems that may happen, and your choices. Be sure all your questions have been answered before you sign this form.
Caregivers may insert an intravenous tube (IV) into your vein. A vein in the arm is usually chosen. Through the IV tube, you may be given liquids and medicine.
You may need a blood transfusion if you lose a large amount of blood during surgery. Some people are worried about getting AIDS, hepatitis, or the West Nile virus from a blood transfusion. The risk of this happening is very low. Blood banks test all donated blood for AIDS, hepatitis, and the West Nile virus. You may be able to donate your own blood before surgery. This is called autologous blood donation. This must be done no later than three days before surgery. You may also ask a family member or friend with the same blood type to donate blood for you. This is called directed blood donation.
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.
An anesthesiologist may talk to you before your surgery. This caregiver may give you medicine to make you sleepy before your procedure or surgery. Tell your caregiver if you or anyone in your family has had a problem using anesthesia in the past.

TREATMENT:

What will happen:

You may be given medicine in your IV to help you relax. You will be taken to the room where your surgery will be done. You will be given anesthesia medicine to make you comfortable and fully asleep during your surgery. While you are asleep, your caregiver will put a tube into your bladder to drain your urine. Your bladder is an organ where urine is kept. 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 will use special tools to remove your uterus. If you have a total abdominal hysterectomy, then your entire uterus including the cervix will be removed. If you are having a subtotal (supracervical) hysterectomy, then your uterus but not your cervix will be removed. In a radical hysterectomy, your entire uterus plus part of your vagina and nearby tissues will be removed. During surgery, your caregiver may remove other reproductive organs if they are infected or have cancer in them. 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. 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. After your caregiver says it is OK, you will be taken back to your hospital room.

Waiting room: This is a room where your family and friends can wait until you are ready for visitors. If your family leaves the hospital, ask them to leave a phone number where they can be reached.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

You have a fever (high body temperature).
You cannot make it to your surgery.
You feel pain or fullness in your vagina.
You feel like something is sticking out of your vagina.
You have questions or concerns about your surgery.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

You have bleeding from your vagina that does not stop.

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

	Search:
Browse all medications A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z	Advanced Search