Laparoscopic surgery is a keyhole, minimally invasive surgical procedure carried out under general anaesthetic. It is used to diagnose or treat conditions of the pelvis. Dr Abby is able to examine your pelvic organs by inflating your abdomen with gas and inserting a small camera (laparoscope) through a small incision in the umbilicus (belly- button). She can also take samples of tissue for examination to confirm diagnosis in a laboratory. Laparoscopic surgery is beneficial as it will only create small incisions which heal quickly.
Using a laparoscope Dr Abby can look directly at your organs and excise pathology from your:
There are a number of advantages to the patient with laparoscopic surgery versus an open procedure. These include:
Reduced bleeding , which reduces the chance of needing a blood transfusion.
Smaller incision, which reduces pain and shortens recovery time.
Although procedure times can be slightly longer, hospital stay is less leading to a faster return to everyday living.
Less pain, leading to less pain medication needed.
The risks are similar for both laparoscopic and open surgery. There is a small chance – 1:1000 – that the surgeon may not be able to complete the procedure laparoscopically, This may be secondary to unexpected complications or because the surgery cannot be safely performed with a laparoscopic approach.
Generally, the experience any of the following symptoms within the first 24 to 48 hours:
Nausea and light-headedness
Scratchy throat from breathing tube
Pain around the incisions
Abdominal pain or uterine cramping
Shoulder tip pain-secondary to the carbon dioxide gas
Tender umbilicus (belly-button)
Gassy or bloated feeling
Vaginal bleeding or discharge (like a menstrual flow)
Some mild nausea and light-headedness
The following is a normal timetable for recovery from minimally invasive surgery on the abdomen:
The groggy feeling from the anaesthetic disappears the day after surgery and the individual is fully alert once again.
Any pain in the shoulders or neck area usually goes away after a few days.
Soreness in the incisions disappears within a few days and the incisions heal after about five days.
The bloated feeling after abdominal or pelvic laparoscopy goes away within a few days.
Recovery depends on the type of procedure performed. Most patients feel well within days of surgery. But if major surgery has been performed rest is still required.
Most patients will require some form of pain medicine in the immediate postoperative period. The timing for returning to work depends on the procedure performed and your occupation.
Dr Abby will discuss this with you after surgery and help you make an informed choice.
Yes. A laparoscopic biopsy is required to diagnose endometriosis. Endometriotic implants are ideally treated laparoscopically with excision. This treatment usually produces more immediate results in terms of pain relief and improves fertility compared with medical therapy.
Colposcopy is an examination of the cervix under a microscope. Used to identify abnormal cells, often Dr Abby will biopsy the cervix prior to arranging treatment.
Please click this link for more information about the procedure.
Dr Abby understands that when providing Gynaecological and obstetric care intimate examinations are often necessary.
For some women, particularly for those who have had traumatic experiences previously, this can be difficult.
If you feel uncomfortable at any time before, during or after an examination please let Dr Abby or the nurses know.
Please remember you can always ask for the examination to stop at any time and you are welcome to bring a friend or a relative if you wish.
