Keyhole Hysterectomy -The Cutting Edge
Good news for ladies – says Dr. Saraswathi. Uterus removal through keyhole surgery leads to quicker recovery and smaller scars

Hysterectomy means removal of the uterus and sometimes the ovaries too are removed with the uterus (oopherectomy). There are many reasons for the removal of the uterus. Some of the common reasons for performing hysterectomies include fibroids of the uterus, abnormal uterine bleeding Endometrosis, prolapse of the uterus, chronic pelvic pain or cancerous lesions in the uterus.

The usual methods of surgical treatment for these are either an abdominal hysterectomy or a vaginal hysterectomy.

Convenient New Method The conventional or open Hysterectomy is done through a large abdominal incision and requires a hospital stay of 7-10 days with a long recovery period of upto 8 weeks. It leaves a visible scar on the abdomen. In recent years keyhole laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy is replacing conventional surgery as the procedure of choice. Its greatest benefit is the potential to convert what would have been an abdominal hysterectomy into vaginal hysterectomy.

What you will undergo
In a laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy, an instrument called a laparoscope and other specialized instruments are used to help with the removal of uterus which is completed vaginally. The instruments are passed through 3 or 4 half inch cuts on the abdominal wall. The supporting ligaments of uterus, blood vessels and tissue that surround and support the uterus are cut, and the blood vessels are sealed off. Then a cut is made through the vagina, the uterus is separated from the vagina and removal with or without ovaries is done.

Shorter Recovery Time
After this procedure you will be required to spend atleast 1- 3 days at the hospital. You will experience very minimal post operative pain and the recovery time is shorter. There is no abdominal cut, only small punctures, so there is lesser possibility of wound related complications. Therefore, you will be left with a smaller scar instead of a large abdominal scar.