Symptoms and Causes of Infertility in Women
February 24, 2023What Are Kegel Exercises?
May 15, 2023Symptoms and Causes of Infertility in Women
February 24, 2023What Are Kegel Exercises?
May 15, 2023Fibroid Surgery
When deciding on fibroid surgery, the effect of the mass on the patient's life is evaluated. Fibroids of a size that will reduce the comfort of life and prevent the patient from doing their daily tasks are removed through surgery. Taking into account the current condition of the patient, the method to be applied within the scope of fibroid surgery is determined. After learning about fibroids, studying the types of fibroid surgery can provide more useful results.
Fibroids are the name given to benign tumors that occur in November in the muscular layer of the uterus. Uterine fibroids, consisting of smooth muscles and connective tissues, are November named differently depending on the region where they develop. The type of surgery is also selected according to where the fibroid develops. The size of fibroids varies from patient to patient. There can be huge masses ranging from the size of chickpeas to 5 kilograms in weight.
Many factors are found effective in the formation of fibroids. Fibroids are hormone sensitive. For this reason, fibroid sizes may vary depending on hormones in women of reproductive age. Fibroids, which are especially common in the 35 - 55 December age range, stop growing due to a decrease in hormone levels after menopause. Fibroids that do not stop growing should be surgically removed to not reduce the quality of life.
How Are Fibroid Surgeries Performed?
When fibroids are small, it is not expected to cause severe problems to the patient. In order to detect small fibroids, it is necessary to be examined by an obstetrician. However, the situation is different in fibroids with excessive growth. Fibroids that are growing can form large masses. These masses are likely to disturb and deform the uterus.
Large fibroids can cause unwanted conditions such as excessive bleeding, intermediate bleeding, prolonged menstrual period, abdominal growth, pain and pressure sensation, Decumbent mass, urinary problems, inability to get pregnant, or miscarriage. In such cases, surgical intervention is necessary. It is decided which types of fibroid surgery to choose by evaluating the patient's condition.
Abdominal (Open) Myomectomy (Laparotomy)
Open fibroid surgery, which is performed by opening an incision similar to the one made during a cesarean section, is performed by cutting the abdomen. The abdominal skin is cut approximately 7 centimeters, and the fibroids are removed. If the number of fibroids in the uterus is high, if the fibroids are very large, if there is a possibility that the mass thought to be fibroids in the uterine wall is malignant, if the person has undergone surgery from the abdominal region in the past, open fibroid surgery should be preferred.
Laparoscopic (Closed) Myomectomy
Recovery after closed fibroid surgery, which has increased in frequency of preference in recent years, occurs much faster than open fibroid surgery. During the closed fibroid surgery, 3 incisions only 1 centimeter in size are opened to the abdominal area. For this reason, the pain complaint becomes less and the healing process is accelerated.
Closed fibroid surgery is performed in two ways. Closed fibroid surgery can be performed laparoscopically or hysteroscopically. Laparoscopic fibroid surgery is performed by making small incisions in the abdominal area. In hysteroscopic fibroid surgery, the procedure is performed by entering through the cervix with the help of an instrument. The laparoscopic method is preferred especially in subserous fibroid surgery. In submucous fibroid surgery, the hysteroscopic method is mostly preferred.
Hysteroscopic Myomectomy
Although it varies from patient to patient, hysteroscopic myomectomy, which takes about half an hour, is performed while the patient is under general anesthesia. The abdomen is not opened by making an incision. In the hysteroscopic myomectomy method, surgical instruments called hysteroscopes are placed in the vagina and fibroids are reached in this way. The procedure is performed using a liquid that expands the uterine cavity. Thus, the uterine wall can be examined as it is. Fibroids are broken down with the help of a resectoscope and removed vaginally. The patient who has undergone surgery with this procedure can be discharged on the same day. As with other types of surgery, there is a possibility of recurrence of fibroids after the hysteroscopic myomectomy method.
Removal of the Uterus (Hysterectomy)
Hysterectomy may be preferred for people who have a risk or suspicion of cancer and do not want to have children. The operation can be performed vaginally, by opening a hole or incision in the abdomen. If the patient's uterus is completely removed, the patient gets rid of all of his complaints quickly. Excessive bleeding and Decongestant bleeding are stopped. Since the uterus has been removed, it will also prevent the formation of fibroids again. The duration of the uterus removal surgery varies depending on the time chosen for the operation. A hysterectomy is performed under general anesthesia.
Before Fibroid Surgery
There are points that need to be considered before and after surgery so that the body can recover itself after surgery. The doctor shares with you the details of how to prepare for surgery before fibroid surgery. If there are medications that you use regularly, you should share these medications and the frequency of use of medications with your doctor before surgery. The patient should come to the surgery hungry and dehydrated. Your doctor will share with you what may happen before, during, and after fibroid surgery.
After Fibroid Surgery
After fibroid surgery, there are points that need to be considered for the healthy completion of the patient's recovery process. A shower can be taken on the second day after fibroid surgery. However, warm water should be preferred during the shower and the patient should take the shower standing up. Taking a shower while sitting in areas that accumulate water, such as a bathtub or jacuzzi, increases the risk of infection.
Sexual intercourse is not recommended for the first 14 days after fibroid surgery. During the subsequent 3 – 4 month period, extra care should be taken during this period for the complete healing of the uterine wall. It is not recommended that the person stays in my condition and have a normal birth 6 months after the operation. In terms of the risks of the operation, the amount of vaginal bleeding during the first 3-day period is important. The amount of vaginal bleeding should not exceed 3 – 4 pads per day. If a more intense amount of bleeding is encountered, a doctor should be consulted.
A trip can be made on the seventh day at the earliest after open fibroid surgery, and a trip can be made on the second day after closed fibroid surgery. Since the stitches are performed under the skin, they are not removed after surgery. Abdominal swelling after open fibroid surgery is not an expected complication, you should consult your doctor.
Who Should Undergo Fibroid Surgery?
Many factors are evaluated at the stage of deciding whether fibroid surgery should be performed. The doctor can go down the path of observing fibroids that do not cause complaints in the patient and have a small size by undergoing routine checks. He may prefer to treat with hormonal or non-hormonal drugs.
The size of fibroids is decisive in deciding on fibroid surgery. In addition to fibroid size, growth rate, location, the severity of the complaint they cause and frequency of recurrence, desire to become a mother, and the patient's age are among the effective factors in determining whether fibroid surgery is necessary.
If the treatment methods performed other than surgery are insufficient to resolve the patient's complaint and the patient's complaints are increasing day by day, the doctor makes a final decision on surgery at this stage. Then, the most appropriate type of surgery for the patient is finalized. The quantitative and qualitative characteristics of fibroids are taken into account in the selection of the fibroid surgery method.
To learn more about the topic, check out our article titled "What Are Fibroids (Uterine Fibroids) And Why Does They Occur?"
You can access the video on the subject here.