Hysterectomy is one of the most frequently performed operations and one of the safest operations. This is due to the fact that doctors acquire more specialist knowledge by regularly performing the procedure. In addition, most women with a hysterectomy are generally healthy, which helps prevent complications.
The risk of hysterectomy is relatively low, with only ten percent of hysterectomy patients having any type of complication. Since open or abdominal hysterectomy is generally the technique used in difficult cases, the type of hysterectomy is the greatest risk.
The risks of hysterectomy – what you can expect
The risks of a hysterectomy include the risks associated with all types of surgery and the risks associated with the use of anesthesia. However, here are the specific risks for hysterectomy:
• Bleeding after surgery that continues until the recovery period
• Bleeding during surgery that may require a blood transfusion
• Damage to the tube (ureter) that connects the bladder and the kidney
• Damage to the organs near the uterus
Bruising or puddles of blood (hematoma) in the area where the operation was performed
• Inability to urinate after hysterectomy
• wound separation
• Blood clot in the legs (DVT)
Risks of a hysterectomy – what you need to know
In this way, you can become aware of the risks of a hysterectomy before starting the procedure. It is therefore important that you talk to your doctor about the consequences of hysterectomy. Here are some questions you should ask your doctor:
• What can you do to minimize the risk?
• If you need to run tests to determine what problems can cause complications
• If you keep your ovaries
• If you need to take antibiotics to avoid complications
• How many hysterectomies has the surgeon performed?
• How many hysterectomies performed led to complications?
• The type of hysterectomy recommended by the surgeon
• The least risk method
• If there are hysterectomy techniques that cause more or less complications than the others
When deciding whether or not to perform a hysterectomy, it is important to understand the various risks of a hysterectomy so that you can determine whether the benefits of the operation outweigh the risks.