Redefining Hysterectomies – Every Woman Should Know about Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy (LSH)

It's estimated that each year 600,000 women in the United States undergo hysterectomies (the surgical removal of a woman's uterus). Women undergo hysterectomies to treat a range of conditions including

• fibroids
   
• endometriosis
   
• pelvic support problems
   
• cancers of the uterus and cervix

This makes hysterectomy the second most common major surgery for women. The majority of these surgeries are performed using the traditional open abdominal method, which typically means a long recovery and visible scar.

Fortunately, this is changing with minimally invasive techniques. One such alternative is Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy (LSH), which can transform the hysterectomy experience for most women.

Benefits of LSH

LSH was designed so that women experience less scarring, less pain and a shorter recovery than the traditional open abdominal surgery. It can be done on an outpatient basis, so that typically women can return home within 24 hours and resume day-to-day activities within a week, on average.

How the LSH Procedure is Performed

The LSH procedure uses a thin, lighted telescope-like instrument called a laparoscope, which acts like a video camera, along with small surgical instruments that are all inserted through three tiny incisions (less than 1/4 inch each) in the navel and abdomen.

Using the instruments, the surgeon carefully separates the uterus from the cervix and removes it through one of the openings. The cervix, the bottom part of the uterus, is left intact, which helps to provide better pelvic floor support.

This is a much less invasive approach than a traditional hysterectomy. In a traditional hysterectomy, the uterus and cervix are removed through a large abdominal incision, which stretches the abdominal muscles and leaves a scar 4-6 inches long.

As with all surgery, any type of hysterectomy involves risk, including potential blood loss, infection and damage to other internal organs. That's why every woman should discuss the surgery with her physician to learn all she can about the procedure.

Research Your Options

A hysterectomy is generally an elective procedure, not an emergency, so Meriter encourages women to take the time to explore and thoroughly understand all of their options. At Meriter, we strongly believe that the LSH procedure will become the new standard for hysterectomies, but it is not the most appropriate option for every medical condition.

We recommend visiting hysterectomyoptions.com for a detailed overview of the options available to you, which include several minimally invasive procedures. The hysterectomyoptions.com site covers:

• What is a Hysterectomy
   
• Anatomy of the Uterus
   
• Why You May Need a Hysterectomy
   
• Hysterectomies and the Ways They Can Be Performed
   
• Benefits of Minimally Invasive Procedures for Hysterectomy
   
• Risks and Complications
   
• Talking With Your Doctor
   
• Frequently Asked Questions
   
• Recommended Web Sites

6/5/2008