What are the potential risks or side effects of a myomectomy or hysterectomy?

The primary surgical risks include:

1. Pain: To prevent pain, you will be given adequate anesthesia during the operation, and postoperatively you will be placed on pain medication as the need dictates.
2. Infection: Two very important steps are essential during this type of surgery:
   - Observation of sterile techniques
   - Administration of preoperative preventative antibiotics (these may at times also be administered during the operation)
3. Blood clots: Clots are a very serious potential risk. The surgeon will place special compression stockings on both lower extremities during and after surgery. In patients who, because of their medical history, are at increased risk for developing blood clots (thromboembolism), special blood-thinning medication (heparin) may also be administered.
4. Injury to internal organs: This is prevented by:
   - Keeping the bladder drained and empty during surgery
   - Packing the intestines away from the immediate surgical field with sterile towels
   - The surgeon’s paying very strict attention to the various anatomical structures that he or she encounters
5. Bleeding or hemorrhage: The surgeon’s skill and expertise will be used to identify the vascular structures,and he or she will ligate (tie), occlude (clamp), or cauterize the blood vessels as the need dictates.

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