Unwanted Surgeries for Fibroids Can Prove Fatal

By Dr. Seema Wadhwa in Obstetrics And Gynaecology

Jul 25 , 2017 | 2 min read

Uterus Removal Surgery should be avoided, all fibroids do not need surgery, say Max Hospital launches a specialised clinic for fibroids.

Soon after the attention of the entire nation shifted towards the need for fighting unwanted surgeries, especially, after the Central government’s stir against them, Max Hospital, Mohali launched a specialized fibroid clinic.

“Studies reveal that by the age of 60, every 3rd women In India has already undergone hysterectomy or uterus removal surgery. Unnecessary surgery of the uterus can sometimes be fatal. Morbidity and post operative suffering from complications is an outcome that can easily be avoided alongside pain to the patient, family and children, says Dr Seema Wadhwa who heads the clinic.

“Our endeavour is to curb the increasing incidence of uterus removal surgeries for trivial problems. It is important to know when to say no to surgery,” she added.

What will the Clinic Cater to?

The clinic will cater to patients having fibroids, treating and guiding them according to observed clinical symptoms. Since menopause post-recovery is accelerated due to surgery- the most common symptoms you can feel are:

Hot flushes
Osteoporosis
Easy fatigability
Mood swings
Low back pain
Abdominal pain due to adhesions formed after surgery.

Even if ovaries are conserved they ceased to function after 3-5 years of surgery. Most of these surgeries are conducted due to FIBROIDS which is the most common indication leading to operative decisions.

What exactly are fibroids?

Fibroids (also known as Rasoli) are smooth muscle tumours arising from the uterus and are found in women of all age groups. Mostly asymptomatic, they can manifest as severe pain during and after menstruation, excessive or irregular bleeding, pressure symptoms on the kidney, difficulty in passing stools, inability to conceive, early miscarriages, increased chances of caesarian during pregnancy, pre term labour and the list does not end.

Dr Wadhwa stressed that with advanced Medical management and specialised hormonal devices, trivial gynaecological disorders can be treated successfully without surgery. Diagnostic tools such as advanced Hysteroscopy can assess the level of disease. Ultrasound and Hysteroscopy also help to know the specific location of fibroids.

What is the treatment of Fibroids?

“Newer medical modalities to treat fibroids have been introduced but if surgery is must and cannot be avoided, the option of the Laparoscopic technique is the latest after thoroughly screening the pros and cons, since it is a painless, stitchless, and a scarless procedure.”

For patients in whom surgery is unavoidable (either removal of the uterus or only fibroid removal) laparoscopy (through Keyhole surgery) is the best option she added.

It is possible for a woman to conceive after removal of fibroids from the uterus (Myomectomy). This can even be achieved in complicated cases like severe endometriosis, in patients with previous open surgeries, and multiple caesarian.

Advantages of such Minimal invasive techniques include: