Abdominal Hysterectomy

Abdominal Hysterectomy - Treatments

What kinds of Abdominal Hysterectomy are there?

There are various type of abdominal hysterectomy which may or may not involve removal of the Fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH):

This is the traditional method of removing the womb through a surgical cut in the tummy. The cut (about 15cm long) is usually made across the lower part of your tummy along the bikini line. However in cases where the womb is very enlarged, an up-and-down cut in the middle of the tummy may be necessary.

Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy (TLH):

This is a newer and more advanced method of removing the womb. It is also called key-hole surgery or minimally invasive surgery. It only involves 4 small cuts of 0.5cm each on the tummy. Surgery is carried out inside the tummy using laparoscopic instruments and high definition videoscopes. The womb is then removed through the vagina.

The main benefits of TLH are:

small to almost invisible surgical scars on the tummy
markedly reduced pain after surgery
reduced chance of infection
less bowel function disturbances and
a very much faster recovery within the week compared to TAH.

As this method requires more sophisticated instruments and advanced surgical skills, it may cost slightly more than the traditional abdominal hysterectomy.

The types of condition best suited for TLH include DUB, Endometrial Hyperplasia, Pelvic Endometriosis, Early Cervix / Womb Cancer and Fibroid not larger than 6cm.