Hysterectomy techniques and indications

Hysterectomy techniques and indications

Hysterectomy techniques and indications

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✂️ The Uterus Exit

  • Indications:
    • Benign: Symptomatic fibroids, abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), endometriosis, pelvic organ prolapse.
    • Malignant: Endometrial, cervical, or ovarian cancers.
  • Types & Approaches:
    • Total (TAH/TVH/TLH): Uterus + cervix removed. Vaginal (TVH) is preferred when feasible.
    • Subtotal/Supracervical: Uterus only.
    • Radical: For cancer; includes parametrium & upper vagina.
    • Laparoscopic/Robotic approaches offer minimal invasion.

Ureteral injury is a major complication, especially during uterine artery ligation. 📌 Mnemonic: "Water (ureter) under the bridge (uterine artery)."

Pelvic ureter relations: male vs. female anatomy

🏥 Management - When to Evict

  • Benign Indications (Definitive Tx):
    • Symptomatic Leiomyomas (Fibroids): Most common reason.
    • Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB): When medical/procedural management fails.
    • Adenomyosis / Endometriosis: For severe, refractory pain or bleeding.
    • Pelvic Organ Prolapse: When uterus descends into the vagina.
  • Malignant Indications:
    • Primary treatment or staging for endometrial, cervical, and some ovarian cancers.
  • Obstetric Emergencies:
    • Intractable postpartum hemorrhage; placenta accreta spectrum disorders.

⭐ Always consider and exhaust less invasive options (medical, IUD, ablation) before hysterectomy for benign conditions.

🗺️ Anatomy - Know the Neighborhood

  • Key Structures at Risk:

    • Ureter: Most common site of injury is at the level of the uterine artery or near the uterosacral ligaments.
    • Bladder: Anterior to uterus.
    • Rectum: Posterior to uterus.
  • Vascular Supply:

    • Uterine Artery: Branch of the internal iliac artery.
    • Ovarian Artery: Branch of the abdominal aorta.
  • Ligamentous Support:

    • Cardinal (Transverse Cervical) Ligament: Contains uterine vessels.
    • Uterosacral Ligaments: Anchor cervix to sacrum.

"Water under the bridge": The Ureter (water) passes inferior to the Uterine Artery (bridge) approximately 2 cm lateral to the cervix. This is a critical landmark to prevent iatrogenic injury.

Ureter and uterine artery relationship during hysterectomy

🔪 Hysterectomy: Techniques & Indications

  • Indications:
    • Malignancy: Endometrial, cervical, ovarian cancer.
    • Benign (refractory to medical tx): Symptomatic leiomyomas (fibroids), abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), endometriosis/adenomyosis, pelvic organ prolapse.
  • Surgical Approaches:
    • Vaginal (TVH): Preferred route; least invasive, fastest recovery. Best for non-malignant, smaller uterus.
    • Laparoscopic (LAVH/TLH): Minimally invasive alternative to abdominal.
    • Abdominal (TAH): Most invasive; for large uterus (>12-14 wk size), malignancy staging, or severe adhesions.

Ureter Injury: The ureter is most vulnerable during ligation of the uterine artery ("water under the bridge") and dissection near the cardinal ligament.

Ureter and uterine artery relationship during hysterectomy

⚠️ Complications - Post-Op Pitfalls

  • Intra-op: Hemorrhage (uterine artery), ureteric injury, bladder/bowel injury.
  • Early Post-op: Infection (vaginal cuff cellulitis/abscess), VTE, ileus.
  • Late Post-op: Vaginal vault prolapse, premature ovarian failure (if oophorectomy), urinary incontinence.

⭐ Ureteric injury is most common during ligation of the uterine artery, which passes inferiorly and laterally to it ("water under the bridge").

⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) are the #1 indication for hysterectomy, followed by abnormal uterine bleeding and malignancy.
  • Vaginal hysterectomy is the preferred, least morbid approach, especially with uterine prolapse.
  • Abdominal hysterectomy is reserved for very large uteri (>12-14 wks size) or extensive disease.
  • Ureteral injury is the most feared complication, especially during uterine artery ligation ("water under the bridge").
  • Total hysterectomy removes the uterus and cervix; supracervical spares the cervix.

Practice Questions: Hysterectomy techniques and indications

Test your understanding with these related questions

A 33-year-old woman comes to the emergency department because of a 1-hour history of severe pelvic pain and nausea. She was diagnosed with a follicular cyst in the left ovary 3 months ago. The cyst was found incidentally during a fertility evaluation. A pelvic ultrasound with Doppler flow shows an enlarged, edematous left ovary with no blood flow. Laparoscopic evaluation shows necrosis of the left ovary, and a left oophorectomy is performed. During the procedure, blunt dissection of the left infundibulopelvic ligament is performed. Which of the following structures is most at risk of injury during this step of the surgery?

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Flashcards: Hysterectomy techniques and indications

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Which type of hemorrhoid is NOT painful? _____

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

Which type of hemorrhoid is NOT painful? _____

Internal hemorrhoids

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