Hysterectomy Options

Donna Schoenfelder, MD
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Eau Claire Women’s Care

Steven Stenzel, MD
Gynecology
Stenzel Clinic for
Women’s Health
Eau Claire

Hysterectomy has been an option for treatment of a variety of women’s health problems for nearly 100 years. Traditional surgery was performed through a 4-6 inch abdominal incision with removal of the uterus, cervix and possibly the ovaries; a complete and total hysterectomy. The recuperation time for this procedure is generally six weeks, which would include 2-3 days of hospitalization following the procedure, significant restriction of activities including driving, stair climbing, lifting and care of the abdominal incision.

Recent technology now allows the procedure to be done laparoscopically. A Laparoscopic Supra-cervical Hysterectomy (LSH) preserves the cervix. Retaining the cervix plays an important role in pelvic support. Using a thin, lighted instrument called a laparoscope, which acts like a video camera, along with small surgical instruments that are inserted through 3 to 4 tiny incisions (less than 1/4 inch each) in the navel and abdomen, 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. Because this type of surgery does not require the surgeon to make a large abdominal incision, the patient will not have the same kind of visible scar typical with most traditional open surgeries.

We now offer the Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy (LSH) to select qualified patients. Our observations, after performing some 50 procedures, is that there are significant advantages compared to the standard vaginal hysterectomy that does remove the cervix.

Advantages for the LSH cervical retaining procedure:

For patients

Shorter hospital stay (usually only over night)
3 to 4 small incisions (no major scarring or long recuperation period)
Smaller dosages of pain medication
Quicker return to full activities (1 to 2 weeks)
Less vaginal discharge and bleeding than other types of hysterectomy

Surgical advantages

Decreases operative time
Less blood loss
Less annoying vaginal discharge

Each patient’s needs are individually evaluated for the best type of hysterectomy to be performed. The evaluation may include blood testing and/or pelvic imaging by ultrasound. It’s important to discuss thoroughly all concerns and options with your physician or gynecologist.

More information regarding LSH can be found online at www.LSHinfo.com

Uterus is separated from cervix and removed, leaving the cervix in place. The LSH minimally invasive procedure greatly reduces HEALING TIME.

For information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Steven Stenzel, Stenzel Clinic for Women’s Health, Eau Claire, call 715.831.6100, or Dr. Donna Schoenfelder, Eau Claire Women’s Care, 715.834.9998. Dr. Stenzel also sees patients and performs surgery at outreach locations in Cumberland, Durand, Neillsville and Stanley.