Laparoscopy
Laparoscopy has revolutionized gynecological surgery by offering a less invasive and more patient-friendly approach used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Laparoscopy is often used to determine the cause of pelvic pain, or to diagnose and treat gynecologic conditions, and to evaluate and treat infertility.
Laparoscopy in gynecology, also known as gynecological laparoscopy or minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, is a surgical technique that uses a laparoscope to view and operate on the organs within the pelvis and abdomen.
Laparoscopy offers several advantages over traditional open surgery:
- Smaller incision sites
- Less pain and swelling
- Reduced down time
- Quicker healing times
Laparoscopic Procedure
- Laparoscopy is performed under general anesthesia.
- Once you are asleep, an incision is made typically on the lower border of your umbilicus or belly button.
- A specialized instrument is placed through the incision into the abdominal cavity.
- The abdomen is then filled with carbon dioxide, expanding the area and optimizing visualization of the organs.
- Ports are then placed, usually at the umbilicus and above the pubic bone through which the laparoscope and additional specialized instruments are placed.
The laparoscope is a thin, lighted tube with a camera attached to it which allows the surgeon to visualize the internal organs on a video monitor and provides a magnified view, allowing our surgeons to perform the necessary surgical interventions with precision.
- Laparoscopy can help diagnose endometriosis implants which can be a source of various types of pelvic pain or infertility
- Our practice will utilize a LASER or harmonic scalp to destroy and remove endometriosis implants
Ovarian Cysts
- Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy involves the removal of ovarian cysts while preserving healthy ovarian tissue.
- It can treat patients with polycystic ovaries (PCOS) through ovarian drilling which involves making three to eight tiny punctures into the ovaries to restore ovulation.
- Laparoscopic adhesiolysis is the surgical procedure used to remove pelvic adhesions.
- The goal of adhesiolysis is to restore normal pelvic anatomy and function, relieve symptoms such as pain, and improve fertility outcomes for individuals experiencing infertility due to adhesions.
Evaluate and treat infertility and tubal disease.
- Laparoscopy can be used to directly visualize the fallopian tubes, identify any blockages, and sometimes clear the obstruction if it is amenable to surgical correction.
- Tubal obstruction occurs when there is a blockage in one or both of the fallopian tubes, which can prevent the egg from reaching the uterus or the sperm from reaching the egg.
- Laparoscopic tubal ligation, or “having one’s tubes tied,” is a form of permanent birth control for women. We now recommend the entire tube be removed to decrease a woman’s risk of fallopian tube cancer.
Hysterectomy
- Some hysterectomies can be performed laparoscopically, where the uterus is removed using small incisions in the abdomen.
Are there risks of a laparoscopy?
The likelihood of complications with laparoscopy is only 0.3%. Despite the infrequency of complications, it is important to be aware of what they are.
Potential risks include:
- bleeding or a hernia (a bulge caused by poor healing) at the incision sites
- internal bleeding
- infection
- damage to a blood vessel or other organ, such as the stomach, bowel, bladder, or ureters
Contact your ob-gyn right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms:
- Fever
- Pain that is severe or gets worse
- Heavy vaginal bleeding
- Redness, swelling, or discharge from the incision
- Fainting
- Inability to empty your bladder
Rarely, the ob-gyn begins with laparoscopy but must change to open surgery. This might happen if the ob-gyn finds something that may be cancer and a larger incision is needed to remove it. It also might happen if the ob-gyn finds something unexpected (infection, for example) or a complication develops that requires open surgery to resolve.