Laparoscopy is minimally invasive surgery that allows the surgeon to look at the pelvic organs using a thin instrument called a laparoscope for diagnosis or treatment of a gynecological condition. The laparoscope is inserted through a small incision made inside the navel. Carbon dioxide gas is introduced into the abdominal-pelvic cavity so that visualization of the reproductive organs is possible. The laparoscope has a small camera and light source on the end. During laparoscopy, the surgeon inserts additional instruments such as probes, scissors, grasping instruments, biopsy forceps, and suture materials through two or three additional incisions. At the end of the procedure, the carbon dioxide gas is removed, and the incisions are sutured shut with a few small stitches. Laparoscopy is performed under general anaesthesia and generally completed in one to two hours. It is a less-invasive procedure than open abdominal surgery and allows for a quicker recovery with a lower risk of complications. Most patients go home the same day after procedure and return to work 3-4 days later.
Reasons for Laparoscopy
- Diagnosis
- Dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual periods)
- Dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse)
- Endometriosis treatment
- Myomectomy (surgical removal of fibroids)
- Ovarian cystectomy (surgical removal of cysts)
- Hysterectomy (surgical removal of uterus)
- Adhesions (surgical removal of scar tissue)
- Pelvic pain
- Salpingectomy (surgical removal of tubes)
- Salpingostomy (surgical repair of the fallopian tubes)
- Unexplained infertility
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Pelvic abscess, or pus
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Reproductive cancers
