Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Specialist

What is a laparoscopic hysterectomy?

Total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) requires general anesthesia and vaginal and laparoscopic incisions to remove the uterus and cervix. The important difference is that in TLH vaginal retractors are not needed since the vagina is closed by suturing from inside the pelvic cavity under direct vision of the laparoscope (camera).

This procedure is technically more difficult than TAH (total abdominal hysterectomy), TVH (total vaginal hysterectomy), LAVH (laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy), and LSH (laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy) since it requires the surgeon to be trained in advanced laparoscopy. Special energy sources are used to seal and divide the blood vessels and to detach the uterus from its attachments.

If the uterus is small, it’s removed through the vagina. If the uterus is large, a special device called a morcellator is used to cut the uterus into small strips so it can be removed through the incision site. Usually, TLH is an outpatient surgery, and patients typically go home 6-8 hours after surgery. Postoperative recovery is normally 2-3 weeks and patients can usually resume intercourse after six weeks.

What are the benefits of laparoscopic hysterectomy?

The benefits of laparoscopic surgery are many. To name a few, patients usually go home the same day, the recovery time is faster and less painful, and the cosmetic outcome is better.

At AMIGS, the surgeons are trained in advanced laparoscopy and perform the overwhelming majority of their cases laparoscopically, even in patients that have a very large uterus or have had multiple abdominal surgeries in the past. They feel that the minimally invasive laparoscopic approach to removing the uterus is the best approach for the patient.

What is laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy?

LSH requires general anesthesia and only laparoscopic incisions to remove the uterus. The cervix is spared thus there is no vaginal incision needed. The LSH procedure is essentially sutureless and bloodless since special energy sources are used to seal and divide the blood vessels and to detach the uterus from the cervix and ovaries.

The uterus is removed through the belly button incision site. Having performed over 1500 laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy procedures, Dr. Mordel notes that LSH avoids unpleasant scars and shortening the vagina, eliminates the need for retractors and bowel packing, and significantly reduces hospital stays, postoperative pain, and recovery time.

LSH generates less pain than any other hysterectomy. It is usually an outpatient procedure, and patients typically go home 6-8 hours after surgery and return to normal activities in about two weeks.

Preservation of the cervix maintains the integrity of the vagina so it does not become shortened. It also saves some of the blood supply and nerve network and therefore may preserve pelvic floor function, including sexual response. However, this is not proven in the literature.

After having a procedure where the cervix is spared, a patient will need to have routine Pap tests since the risk of cervical cancer still exists. Also, patients should be aware that there is a very small possibility that occasional light vaginal spotting from the cervix can occur.

Find out more by calling Atlanta Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Center or book an appointment online.