HYSTERECTOMY
By Paul MacKoul, MD – Laparoscopic GYN Surgeon and Co-Founder of CIGC.
Hysterectomy Risks and Complications
A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus and is performed to treat serious GYN conditions such as fibroids and endometriosis. As one of the 10 most common surgeries performed in the United States each year, hysterectomy is generally considered to be a safe procedure — one of the very safest, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
As with all surgeries, however, there are not only common, short-term side effects you may experience, but also less common, more serious risks to be aware of. These may occur during the hysterectomy procedure or manifest afterward.
Some patients are at greater risk than others for experiencing complications — underlying medical problems, for example, may affect outcomes if they are not taken into account. This is one of many reasons it’s best to consult with GYN surgical experts like the specialists at The Center for Innovative GYN Care.
At CIGC, we take great precautions to minimize risk during hysterectomy. This includes using advanced surgical techniques we perfected that significantly diminish the chance of complications and enable you to recover faster when compared with other techniques.
Surgical Risks and Complications
The following complications may occur during a hysterectomy. Their likelihood depends on the type of hysterectomy performed, the surgical technique, the surgeon’s skill and other factors.
- Blood clots
- Infection
- Excessive bleeding
- Anesthesia reaction
- Damage to bladder, rectum, bowel, urinary tract, vessels or nerves
- Death (rare)
Complication Rates by Surgical Technique
A 2019 analysis1 by the research team at The Center for Innovative GYN Care included data on more than 2600 cases to compare the surgical outcomes of the most commonly performed hysterectomies. Using an advanced statistical model, which takes into account case complexity and patient demographics, as well as surgeon experience, the researchers showed that patients who underwent DualPortGYN had the lowest intraoperative complication rate, as shown in the table below and as published in peer-reviewed medical journals.
DualPortGYN consistently ranks as the safest hysterectomy option. Using an advanced surgical technique known as retroperitoneal dissection with uterine artery ligation, our surgeons can minimize blood loss and complications.
Choosing DualPortGYN
CIGC’s fellowship-trained GYN surgeons use their DualPortGYN technique to perform minimally invasive hysterectomies with unmatched safety. Using just two ¼-inch incisions, patients go home the same day and experience less pain and faster recovery than with any other hysterectomy method.
Speak with a member of our experienced care team to find out more about DualPortGYN today.
References
1 Danilyants N, MacKoul P, Baxi R, et al. Value-based assessment of hysterectomy approaches. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2019 Feb;45(2):389-98
2 Rosero EB, Kho KA, Joshi GP, et al. Comparison of robotic and laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign gynecologic disease. Obstet Gynecol. 2013 Oct;122(4):778-86
3 Mokate T, Wright C, Mander T. Hysterectomy and sexual function. J Br Menopause Soc. 2006 Dec;12(4):153-7
4 Rhodes JC, Kjerulff KH, Landenberg PW, et al. Hysterectomy and sexual functioning. JAMA. 1999 Nov 24;282(20):193-41
5 Blandon RE, Bharucha AE, Melton LJ 3rd, et al. Incidence of pelvic floor repair after hysterectomy: a population-based cohort study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Dec;197(6):664.e1-7.
