Hysterotomy

A hysterotomy is used to remove a fetus from the uterus, similar to a procedure known as caesarean section, in order to terminate a pregnancy during the first trimester (or the first three months). It is typically used as last resort if dilation and curettage, dilation and electric vacuum aspiration, or manual vacuum aspiration fails to work. Dilation and curettage refers to the opening or widening of the cervix and scooping and scraping the tissues that are inside of the uterus. Electric vacuum aspiration utilizes a vacuum to remove the embryo that is in the uterus, but this method is more expensive than manual vacuum aspiration.[6]

Caesarean section operation

Although fetal delivery through caesarean section is a very common surgery done in the world, it comes with several risks including bleeding, infection, thromboembolism, and soft-tissue injury. During a caesarean section, a hysterotomy is utilized to make an incision in the uterus and remove the fetus.[7] Gestational age, newborn birth weight, and danger presenting risks are all taken into account on whether or not a classic hysterotomy or low transverse incision will be made.[8]

A resuscitative hysterotomy is performed during or near the occurrence of a cardiac arrest, in which an incision is made to remove the fetus from the uterus. This is done in order to save the fetus, as well as to revive the person whose uterus was carrying the fetus. This is traditionally done if the fetus is of 24 weeks or older, at which it is viable outside of the uterus.[9] The primary goal is to save the pregnant person, and in order to insure the highest survival rate, the goal of fetus delivery time is within 5 minutes after the patient goes under arrest and/or 2 cycles of CPR.[10] During pregnancy, the pregnant uterus may compress the inferior vena cava and abdominal aorta, causing reduced blood flow to the uterus and to the pregnant person. Removing the fetus can restore blood flow to the pregnant person.[11]

Hysterotomy is a technique used during fetal surgery to access the fetus in the pregnant uterus in order to treat a birth defect such as spina bifida.[12] A standard hysterotomy remains the gold-standard for the closure of a fetal spina bifida because it is the safest and most effective when compared to mini-hysterectomies and a percutaneous two-layer fetoscopy.[13] A mini-hysterotomy procedure is favored for extreme cases of preterm delivery and any complications regarding maternal, fetal, and/or neonatal because of the reduced risks and complications.[14]

Caesarean sections require a large incision of the uterus, which can lead to complications such as blood loss, postoperative pain, anaemia due to continuing blood loss, fever and possible wound infection, breastfeeding issues, difficulty passing urine, future fertility problems, and/or possible complications in future pregnancies including uterine rupture.[3]

In fetal surgery, without inhibition of uterine contractions, uterine irritability and premature labor are complications that occur very frequently in of hysterotomy cases.[20] It can be inhibited by anti-contraction medications.[21] Preterm birth and early membrane rupture (PPROM) are common risks for fetal therapies. For most cases, fetoscopic surgery, which minimizes the damage to the uterus, is preferred to mitigate risks and complications. Membrane sealing and fixation has been investigated for reducing PPROM risk, but it has not been found to be clinically beneficial.[20]

Scar ectopic pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy, however, when it does occur it causes complications in pregnancy such as abnormal uterine bleeding and uterine rupture. The mechanism of how scar ectopic pregnancy still remains unknown. However, the possibility that defects may form to the scarring from previous procedures/traumas such as caesarean section, dilation, hysterotomy, abnormal placentation can cause scar ectopic pregnancy.[4]

There are two categories of complications with surgical abortions, minor and major. Minor complications are procedural pain, bleeding, infection and common anesthesia complications. The more serious and major complications include hemorrhage, sepsis, peritonitis, deep vein thrombosis and death.[22]

A hysterotomy can be performed by various methods. Typically a small incision is made with a scalpel about 1-2 cm long. During a blunt expansion, the incision is expanded by the surgeon's index fingers or other blunt dissection tools. During a sharp expansion, bandage scissors are used to cut a larger incision.[24] Some professionals will say that the sharp expansion allows for a more controlled entry into the uterus and a faster delivery of the fetus. Other professionals will say the blunt expansion allows for reduced risk of hemorrhaging or excessive bleeding and improves healing for the patient.[3]

A hysterotomy is completed by closing the uterus either by using a stapler or by suture, no significant differences have been noted to show one technique takes precedent over another.[5]  The muscular outer layer of the uterus in all samples of closures showed some inflammation and thickening/scarring of the tissue.[25] In the event a midline incision is used, three layers of sutures are performed to repair the uterine wall. An interrupted suture is used to close the first and second layer and a continuous locking suture or figure-of-eight suture is used to close the third layer.[2] Since in practice the low transverse incision is typically made, the incision is also typically closed with two layers of sutures. Though, there is a debate on whether the suture should be close with a single layer or a double layer of sutures. Double layer of sutures can promote improved healing, hemostasis and less risk of uterine rupture in the next pregnancy, whereas single layer of sutures allows for less operation time, less tissue disruption and decreased exposure to foreign suture material.[3]