difference between TLH and LAVH

Here I was thinking I had an LAVH until I looked at my discharge notes and saw the dr wrote TLH. I'm pretty sure he had said before the surgery that he was removing everything via the vagina and I was under the impression that he did that. What is the difference between the two?

If you go to Articles and Resources you can find the description of all the different types of hyst.

Happy healing.

To supplement the poster:

I went for a TLH (where *everything* comes out through the little incisions in your tummy). My doc told me that if he couldn't see well enough through the lapro, or if things were too big, then he would do LAVH (still lapro, but the doc takes the parts out through the vagina instead). I'm happy we avoided that (at least,so far I'm happy

Generally speaking, with the TLH--total laparoscopic hysterectomy--the work is all done via the lap incisions and the uterus can be cut into pieces and removed through those same incisions. However, some doctors are removing the uterus vaginally even with the TLH, though possibly not all in one piece.

Generally speaking, with the LAVH--laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy--work is done via the lap incisions, the uterus is delivered whole vaginally, and some work can be done vaginally for the vaginal cuff.

To find out exact details about you, you will have to ask your doctor exactly what he did as the lines are blurring a bit between these two options! (Through from a grammatical view point, if anything is done vaginally it shouldn't be called a TLH--but doctor's aren't English majors! )

Thank you Weiser. That helps. It does seem as if the lines are blurred between the two. Not that it really matters to me at this point. It was a success and that is what counts!

SisterSam,
My doc says that I had a TLH, but the uterus was removed through the vagina so it was confusing to me too. I have laprascopic 3 incision sites, one in the belly button and one on either side of my lower abdomen. Do you have the same?

Yes Gail, I have 3 incisions in the same places.

I have the same three incisions and mine was the LAVH! I know my uterus was delivered vaginally all in one piece. And I had my surgery back before the term "TLH" was being thrown around!

Keeps us all on our toes, doesn't it?!

Or on our butts.

I've got the standard 3 incisions, and Dr swears that he eased the whole thing out through the largest incision (TLH). Given that my vag doesn't hurt and my stomach does, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Either way, may all our recoveries be as boring as possible

I have a copy of my path. report and it reports my uterus is in one piece, judging from the measurements. lol I am assuming he removed it vaginally!