Hysterectomy Surgery Procedures

Hysterectomies are the second-most common surgery in the United States, after cesarean sections. Though there are now several minimally invasive ways to remove the uterus, most hysterectomies are still performed as open, abdominal surgery.

Function

• Hysterectomies are often performed because of fibroids, endometriosis, certain types of cancer or other gynecological problems, most often in women who are finished childbearing.

Abdominal

• In an abdominal hysterectomy, the uterus is removed through a large incision. The surgery usually requires a three- or four-day hospital stay and a six-week recovery.

Other Types

• Hysterectomies can also be performed vaginally, with a laparoscope, or with a robot. All three of these methods typically have a much shorter hospital stay--one or two days--and patients are able to return to work in two weeks.

Vaginal

• In a vaginal hysterectomy, the surgeon removes the uterus through an incision in the vagina. The technical difficulty is higher than an abdominal surgery because the surgeon has less operating space and cannot see the pelvic organs as well.

Laparoscopic

• In a laparoscopic hysterectomy, several small incisions are made in the abdomen and a laparoscope is inserted to remove the uterus. The doctor views the surgical site through an endoscope inserted through one of the incisions.

Robotic

• The least invasive hysterectomy available today uses the da Vinci robot, which provides doctors with a high-definition, 3D, magnified view of the surgical site. The surgeon operates the robot, which is able to make movements too tiny and precise for the human hand.