Laparoscopy, also called diagnostic laparoscopy, is a procedure used to examine the organs located in the abdomen. In the case of women, this includes the reproductive system. In the procedure, a laparoscope, a long thin tube with a light and a high-resolution video camera at the end is inserted into the abdomen through a small surgical incision. The doctor manipulates the device to show the areas and organs that need to be examined and the picture is shown in real-time on a video monitor. The doctor is able to visually examine the interior of the abdomen without the need to perform open surgery.
The benefits of diagnostic laparoscopy include:
If a woman has opted to go in for tying the fallopian tubes as a family planning method and later decided that she wants to conceive again, this procedure is done to reverse the previous procedure. It involves the use of microcatheters (very fine, flexible plastic tubes that are visible under X-ray) which are guided into place by microguidewires that are inserted through the vagina. A small amount of dye that will enhance the visibility is injected through the catheter. Once the cause of the place where the tube has been tied is found the tubes can be opened again out so that it are no longer blocked. The process is done on both of the tubes.
A myomectomy is a surgery that is performed to remove uterine fibroids. These are non-cancerous growths that commonly appear in the uterus, most often in women of childbearing age. Unlike a hysterectomy, where the whole uterus is removed, in the case of a myomectomy, only the fibroids are removed and the uterus is reconstructed if required. The procedure is performed when fibroids have been diagnosed and the condition affects a woman’s normal activities. Subject to medical viability and the patient’s safety and health, this procedure is preferred over hysterectomies for women who are of childbearing age and plan to have children.
An open myomectomy is generally done with a horizontal incision low down on the abdomen. This will allow the surgeon to access the uterus and remove the fibroids. The typical post-operative hospital stay is 2 to 3 days, followed by 4 to 6 weeks of rest and recovery at home.
Scar tissue that becomes excessively thick or forms into lumps is known as abdominal adhesions. The most common cause of this condition is previous abdominal surgery. Other causes include the normal scar formation over a surgical incision, pelvic inflammatory disease, Crohn’s Disease (chronic bowel inflammation), diverticulitis, peritonitis, radiation (from cancer therapy). Generally speaking, these adhesions do not cause any health problems and often remain undetected until they are found in the course of some other diagnostic investigation. They can however cause some health problems including:
The surgical procedure involves making an incision on the lower abdomen, locating and removing the adhesions, repairing any connections between organs that may have been blocked, and then closing the incision. Because symptoms often do not appear and when they do, they are common to many other medical conditions, diagnosis and then treatment requires the expertise and experience that the doctors at NMC possess.