Vaginal Hysterectomy

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

A vaginal hysterectomy is a surgery done to remove your uterus through your vagina. Other organs, such as your ovaries and fallopian tubes, may also be removed.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• After surgery, you may get a fever or an infection. You may have vaginal dryness or a decreased interest in sex. You may have damage to your blood vessels and your organs, such as your bladder and bowels. You may not be able to control when you urinate. You may have pain in your lower abdomen that lasts for months or more. Your other pelvic organs may slip out of place and slide down into the vagina. You may bleed too much during surgery, and need a blood transfusion. Caregivers may decide during surgery to do an abdominal hysterectomy instead.
  
  
• You may get a blood clot in your leg. The clot may travel to your heart or brain and cause life-threatening problems, such as a heart attack or stroke.
  
  
• After a vaginal hysterectomy, you will not be able to get pregnant. Without a vaginal hysterectomy, you may continue to have very heavy bleeding and severe pain. Tumors may continue to grow. Your uterus may slide down further into your vagina. You may have difficulty controlling your bladder. Cancer may spread to other parts of your body. An infection can become severe and be life-threatening.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Before your surgery:

• Informed consent is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.
  
  
• An IV (intravenous) is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.
  
  
• Antibiotics: This medicine is given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by bacteria.
  
  
• Blood thinners: This medicine helps prevent clots from forming in the blood. Blood thinners may be given before, during, and after a surgery or procedure. Blood thinners make it more likely for you to bleed or bruise. Use an electric razor and soft toothbrush to help prevent bleeding.
  
  
• Anesthesia: This medicine is given to make you comfortable. You may not feel discomfort, pressure, or pain. An adult will need to drive you home and should stay with you for 24 hours. Ask your caregiver if you can drive or use machinery within 24 hours. Also ask if and when you can drink alcohol or use over-the-counter medicine. You may not want to make important decisions until 24 hours have passed.
  
  
  • General anesthesia: Caregivers use this medicine to keep you asleep and free from pain during surgery. They give you anesthesia through your IV or as a gas. You may breathe in the gas through a mask or through a breathing tube placed down your throat. The tube may cause you to have a sore throat when you wake up.
    
    
  • Regional anesthesia: Medicine is injected to numb the body area where the surgery or procedure will be done. You will remain awake during the surgery or procedure.

During your surgery:

• Your caregiver will make an incision near your cervix (the opening to your uterus). He will cut and tie the ligaments that hold your uterus in place. Your caregiver will also tie the blood vessels to your uterus to help prevent bleeding. He may give you a shot in your vagina to help decrease bleeding.
  
  
• Your caregiver will remove your uterus through your vagina. He may leave your cervix in place, or he may remove it. He also may remove tissue surrounding your uterus and part of your vagina. Once your surgery is complete, caregivers may fill your vagina with bandages soaked with medicine. Pieces of tissue or organs removed from your body will 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 okay. After your caregiver says it is okay, you will be taken back to your hospital room. Your caregiver may give you any of the following medicines:

• Antinausea medicine: This medicine may be given to calm your stomach and to help prevent vomiting.
  
  
• Pain medicine: You may be given a prescription medicine to decrease pain. Do not wait until the pain is severe before you ask for more medicine.

Foley catheter:

This is a tube caregivers put into your bladder to drain your urine into a bag. Keep the bag below your waist. This will help prevent infection and other problems caused by urine flowing back into your bladder. Do not pull on the catheter, because this may cause pain and bleeding, and the catheter could come out. Keep the catheter tubing free of kinks so your urine will flow into the bag. Caregivers will remove the catheter as soon as possible, to help prevent infection.

Preventing blood clots:

Around the time of your surgery or procedure you may need to take medicine to thin your blood. Blood thinning medicine helps prevent blood clots from forming in your veins. This medicine makes it easier for a person to bruise and bleed. You will need regular blood tests while taking this medicine. If you have a bleeding disorder or a history of bleeding or blood clots, tell your caregiver. Talk to your caregiver about all of the medicines that you use. Physical activity helps prevent blood clots. Caregivers will help you be as active as possible after your surgery or procedure.