Laparoscopic surgery

What is Laparoscopy?
Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure in which a telescope is inserted inside the abdomen through a small cut below the navel (occasionally with one or more small cuts on the lower abdominal wall) so that the doctor can have a look at the pelvic organs in the infertile woman or woman with acute or chronic pelvic pain or a gynaecological problem.

A laparoscopy can lead to the diagnosis of many problems which cause infertility such as damaged fallopian tubes, adhesions, pelvic infections, fibroids and endometriosis. Laparoscopy is usually done on a day-case basis.

When is Laparoscopy done?
Most infertile women require diagnostic laparoscopy in order to complete their evaluation. Generally, the procedure is performed after the basic infertility tests. A laparoscopy may also be needed in a woman who has acute pelvic pain or chronic pelvic pain to help with diagnosis and treatment.

How is Laparoscopy done?
A gas – carbon dioxide – is allowed to flow into the abdomen just below the belly button. This gas creates a space by pushing the abdominal wall and bowel away from the organs in the pelvic area and makes it easier to see the reproductive and pelvic organs clearly.

Then the laparoscope, which is a slender miniature telescope, is inserted through a small incision just below the navel to inspect the organs systematically on a television screen.

In case abnormalities are found, the doctor can either try to correct them (operative laparoscopy), or take out bits of tissue for examination (biopsy)
A blue dye is injected through the womb and fallopian tubes to check whether the tubes are open. When the surgery is complete, the gas is removed and one or two stitches inserted to close the incisions.

What operation can be done through laparoscopy?

1. For the diagnosis of the cause of infertility such as blocked fallopian tubes, fibroids endometriosis, congenital womb anomalies, polycystic ovarian disease, adhesive bands in the pelvis.
2. Operative laparoscopy: Many problems which cause infertility can be safely treated through the laparoscope.  These include:
   
   
1. Releasing scar tissue and / or adhesions from around the fallopian tubes and ovaries
2. Opening blocked tubes
3. Removing ovarian cysts
4. Removing uterine fibroids
5. Destroying the endometriosis tissue
6. Treating ectopic pregnancies
7. “Second-look” procedure following any gynaecological surgery
8. Hysterectomy – Removing the whole womb (uterus)
9. Repair of bladder fistula

What are the benefits of Laparoscopy over open surgery (laparotomy)
There are many reasons why you ought to opt for laparoscopic surgery.
These include:

1. You can usually go home the same day or a day after and resume normal work in 2 to 3 days.
2. Pain is appreciably less than open surgery (laparotomy)
3. Only tiny less visible scars are left on the abdomen after the surgery
4. Sexual activity can be resumed in a week or so, depending upon doctor’s advice.
5. Complications among young women are rare and occur about two out of thousand cases.
6. You can have a hard copy of your procedure as documentation and record keeping.
7. Your doctor can use the recorded procedure to explain to you your problem.

Comparing Laparoscopy and Womb X-ray

Both womb x-ray and laparoscopy provide information about whether or not the fallopian tubes are open. However, laparoscopy provides major benefits such as:

1. Other disorders inside the abdomen which affect tubal function can also be diagnosed
2. It offers the doctor a chance to diagnose and treat the problem at the same time if possible.

Thinking its over….
Come to JUBAIL SPECIALIST HOSPITAL where we perform diagnostic laparoscopy and introduced laparoscopic surgery in Ghana.
We are ready to discuss your problem and offer effective simple solution.
For further details…contact us