Can Laparoscopic Surgery Help In Dealing With Endometriosis?

Laparoscopy is one of the most common procedures for diagnosing and treating endometriosis. Instead of giving a big incision, this procedure of surgery uses a lightweight instrument through a few small holes or incisions. There could be one or more incisions based on the number of instruments that require access inside the body. This procedure involves the use of a camera to ascertain endometriosis as well as treat it in the same sitting. This brings drastic improvement in infertility as well as in pain associated with the endometriosis. If a cyst is found in the ovary, the laparoscopic surgeon removes it very delicately without causing any harm to the normal ovary, as a part of the Laparoscopic Surgery for Endometriosis.

How does the procedure go?

Eating and drinking should be suspended before 8 hours of the laparoscopic surgery. The doctor takes a call on whether to give general or local anesthesia. Mostly, General anesthesia is given during such procedures. A person specialized in Gynecological Endoscopy ( Gynaec Laparoscopic Surgeon) is the best to perform such a procedure.

How is the procedure performed?

The abdomen is first inflated with gas with the help of a needle. It pushes the abdominal wall from the organs to give clear visibility to a surgeon. The laparoscopic Camera with a scope is then pushed through an incision to examine the internal organs. If endometriotic lesions are found then a doctor can use one of the several laparoscopic techniques such as electrocautery, excision, etc to destroy the same. Post-surgery, the incision is closed with stitches. The whole procedure usually takes 30-60 minutes depending upon the severity of endometriosis.

Why is laparoscopy done?

1. To diagnose endometriosis.
2. Infertility associated with Endometriosis.
3. If there is an endometriotic cyst more than 4 cm.
4. If the endometriosis interferes with other organs such as the bladder, rectum, etc.
5. If the pain during menses ( dysmenorrhoea) does not subside with medication.

Duration of hospital stay -

Operations such as these are done as daycare procedures as these are less invasive. Patient need not spent more than a day in the hospital. Rarely in severe cases of endometriosis overnight hospitalization may also be required. One can successfully return to normal work within 1 week of the surgery.

Post-surgical treatment -

Once the laparoscopic diagnosis is made and lesions treated, treatment depend upon the symptoms and age of the patient. If the patient is desirous of pregnancy then accordingly ovulation induction and either IUI or IVF is done. If the patient does not desire for pregnancy then she can be put on hormonal therapy.