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- Cleveland Clinic: What You Need to Know About Hysterectomy - What are the Complications of Hysterectomy?
- WomensHealth.gov: Hysterectomy
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Hysterectomy Complications After Surgery
A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a woman's uterus. In certain cases, a woman may also have her fallopian tubes and ovaries removed during a hysterectomy. A vaginal hysterectomy and an abdominal hysterectomy are the two major ways in which this procedure is performed 23. Women should discuss potential hysterectomy complications after surgery with a medical professional before undergoing this procedure 3.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Bowel Blockage
Bowel or intestinal blockage can occur as a hysterectomy complication after surgery, warn Cleveland Clinic health professionals. Affected women can experience temporary constipation, which can make it difficult to pass a stool. Constipation can also lead to abdominal cramping or bloating in certain women. This common hysterectomy complication can be mitigated through the use of stool softeners or laxatives 1. As the body heals after surgery, bowel complications typically resolve without further medical intervention.
- Bowel or intestinal blockage can occur as a hysterectomy complication after surgery, warn Cleveland Clinic health professionals.
Injury to the Urinary Tract
Colectomy Postsurgical Complications
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During a hysterectomy, a surgeon may accidentally damage a woman's urinary tract. Such injuries are typically detected during surgery and are promptly repaired. After surgery, certain women can experience urinary retention, which makes it difficult to pass urine from the bladder normally. Affected women may have a small tube called a catheter inserted into their bladder to help drain excess fluid waste products from the body. Urine retention complications after surgery are temporary and generally resolve within 24 to 48 hours after surgery, explain medical experts with UpToDate 3.
- During a hysterectomy, a surgeon may accidentally damage a woman's urinary tract.
- After surgery, certain women can experience urinary retention, which makes it difficult to pass urine from the bladder normally.
Infection
Infection can arise as a hysterectomy complication after surgery in certain women 1. Symptoms of infection can include a fever, increased pain or frequent, urgent urination. Fever symptoms typically exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit and can contribute to the appearance of additional symptoms, including headache, flushing, sweating or chills. Women who develop symptoms of infection after a hysterectomy should seek immediate medical attention. Additional antibiotic medication may be necessary to resolve infection symptoms.
- Infection can arise as a hysterectomy complication after surgery in certain women 1.
- Fever symptoms typically exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit and can contribute to the appearance of additional symptoms, including headache, flushing, sweating or chills.
Bleeding and Blood Clots
Complications of Hiatal Hernia Surgery
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Certain women can develop bleeding or blood clot complications after a hysterectomy 13. Excessive vaginal bleeding or hemorrhage may require additional surgery to resolve this complication. Women who undergo a hysterectomy are at an increased risk of developing blood clots within the leg or lung up to six weeks after surgery, warns UpToDate 23. The use of hormonal birth control during the month prior to surgery can further increase a woman's risk of developing blood clots after a hysterectomy. Blood clots that block the flow of blood to the lungs or heart can cause life-threatening medical complications. To limit the risk of blood clots, women should discuss these complications with a medical provider before having surgery.
- Certain women can develop bleeding or blood clot complications after a hysterectomy 1.
- To limit the risk of blood clots, women should discuss these complications with a medical provider before having surgery.
Early Menopause
Premenopausal women may be more likely to experience early menopause after having a hysterectomy. This complication may occur due to poor blood flow to the ovaries following surgery, explains UpToDate. Early menopause can cause hot flashes, irregular or absent menstrual cycles and infertility in affected women.
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References
- Cleveland Clinic: What You Need to Know About Hysterectomy - What are the Complications of Hysterectomy?
- UpToDate: Vaginal Hysterectomy
- UpToDate: Abdominal Hysterectomy Complications
- WomensHealth.gov: Hysterectomy
- "Journal of Postgraduate Medicine;" Complications of Vaginal Hysterectomy; Menna S. Bhattacharya, et. al.; 1978
- Zhang Y et al. Emergency obstetric hysterectomy for life-threatening postpartum hemorrhage: A 12-year review. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Nov; 96(45): e8443. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000008443
- Stanford Health Care. Techniques: Our Approach to Hysterectomy.
- American Cancer Society. (March 2019). Surgery for Endometrial Cancer.
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2020). Frequently Asked Questions: Hysterectomy.
- Committee on Gynecologic Practice. Committee Opinion No 701: Choosing the Route of Hysterectomy for Benign Disease. Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Jun;129(6):e155-e159. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000002112
- Schindlbeck C, Klauser K, Dian D, Janni W, Friese K. Comparison of total laparoscopic, vaginal and abdominal hysterectomy. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2008 Apr;277(4):331-7.
- Einarsson JI, Suzuki Y. Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: 10 Steps Toward a Successful Procedure. Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Winter; 2(1): 57–64.
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2020). Frequently Asked Questions: Hysterectomy.
- Papadopoulos MS, Tolikas AC, Miliaras DE. Hysterectomy-current methods and alternatives for benign indications. Obstet Gynecol Int. 2010;2010. doi:10.1155/2010/356740
- Cooper R, Mishra G, Hardy R, Kuh D. Hysterectomy and subsequent psychological health: findings from a British birth cohort study. J Affect Disord. 2009;115(1-2):122-30. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2008.08.017
- Harnod T, Chen W, Wang J-H, Lin S-Z, Ding D-C. Hysterectomies Are Associated with an Increased Risk of Depression: A Population-Based Cohort Study. J Clin Med. 2018 Oct; 7(10): 366. doi:10.3390/jcm7100366
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. Laparoscopic Hysterectomy.
- American Cancer Society. (Revised March 2019). Surgery for Endometrial Cancer
- American Cancer Society. (Revised December 2018). The American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Prevention and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer
- Clarke-Pearson DL, Geller EJ. Complications of hysterectomy. Obstet Gynecol. 2013 Mar;121(3):654-73. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e3182841594
- Forsgren C, Altman D. Risk of Pelvic Organ Fistula in Patients Undergoing Hysterectomy. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Oct;22(5):404-7. doi:10.1097/GCO.0b013e32833e49b0
- Committee on Gynecologic Practice. Committee Opinion No 701: Choosing the Route of Hysterectomy for Benign Disease. Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Jun;129(6):e155-e159. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000002112
- Doucette RC, Sharp HT, Alder SC. Challenging generally accepted contraindications to vaginal hysterectomy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2001 Jun;184(7):1386-9; discussion 1390-1.
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2020). Frequently Asked Questions: Hysterectomy.
Writer Bio
Rae Uddin has worked as a freelance writer and editor since 2004. She specializes in scientific journalism and medical and technical writing. Her work has appeared in various online publications. Uddin earned her Master of Science in integrated biomedical sciences with an emphasis in molecular and cellular biochemistry from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.