Abdominal Methods for Hysterectomy 

Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH)

This traditional approach involves removal of the uterus and cervix through an abdominal incision about 4 to 6 inches in length. This approach may be recommended for very large fibroids that have not responded to drug therapy or would be difficult to remove vaginally or laparoscopically. This surgery is performed under general, spinal or epidural anesthesia and requires a hospital stay of 3-6 days and a recovery period of approximately six weeks.

Abdominal Supracervical Hysterectomy (ASH)

When an abdominal hysterectomy is needed, it is possible to remove only the uterus and leave the cervix attached to the vagina.  This is an abdominal supracervical hysterectomy and this approach would provide the benefits of cervix preservation when the uterus is removed through a large abdominal incision.  Hospital time is similiar to the TAH but recovery is sooner and surgery less complicated because the cervix has not been removed.