Laparoscopy Specialist

What is laparoscopy?

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that can be used to diagnose the cause of your symptoms and to treat conditions in your pelvic region. It’s named after a device called a laparoscope, which is a narrow tube containing a high-intensity light and a high-definition video camera.

Minimally invasive procedures are performed using several small incisions, typically less than a half-inch long, rather than the single long incision used during open surgery. The laparoscope is inserted through one incision, where it transmits a magnified view of the surgical site to a monitor.

Other surgical instruments needed to perform your procedure are also contained in narrow tubes. They’re inserted through the other incisions and controlled by the surgeon as the treatment site is viewed on the monitor.

What are the advantages of laparoscopy?

The small incisions used during minimally invasive procedures cause less trauma. As a result, you benefit from:

• Faster healing
• Earlier return to normal activities
• Less postoperative pain
• Minimal scarring
• Reduced bleeding
• Lower risk of infection
• Outpatient surgery or less time spent in the hospital

What health conditions are treated with laparoscopy?

The team at Park Avenue Women’s Center use laparoscopy to diagnose and treat many gynecologic problems, including:

Ovarian cysts

Ovarian cysts occur when fluid-filled sacs appear inside or on the surface of your ovaries. You may not develop symptoms when they’re small, but they can become painful if they get too large or twist in place (torsion).

Uterine fibroids

Fibroids are noncancerous growths that develop in the muscular wall of your uterus. Like ovarian cysts, they may not cause symptoms until they enlarge. When symptoms occur, you may experience heavy periods, bleeding between periods, and pelvic pain or pressure.

Uterine polyps

These soft, painless growths are attached to the inner wall of your uterus (endometrium). Symptoms include irregular or heavy periods, bleeding between periods, or bleeding after menopause.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition where cells from the lining of the uterus are found in other locations of the body, most often on or near the ovaries or in the pelvic cavity.

The presence of endometriosis may be painless, or it may cause moderate to severe pain during your period, sexual intercourse, or at other random times.

The condition may be suspected and treated without a definite diagnosis, or may be found during a laparoscopy performed to investigate pelvic pain. There are many treatment options, depending on its severity.  If you feel you have this condition, discuss it with your doctor at the Park Avenue Women's Center. They are expert OB/GYNs who can help.

What procedures are performed during laparoscopy?

The team at Park Avenue Women’s Center performs many types of laparoscopic procedures, such as:

• Hysterectomy: partial or total removal of the uterus
• Myomectomy: removal of uterine fibroids while preserving your uterus
• Ovarian and fallopian cystectomies: removal of cysts
• Salpingo-oophorectomy: removal of one or both ovaries and fallopian tubes
• Ablation of endometriosis: removal of endometriosis
• Diagnostic procedures: detection of polyps, fibroids, endometriosis, scar tissue from prior surgeries (adhesions), evaluation of abnormal bleeding or pelvic pain syndromes, or other problems
• Resectoscopic (hysteroscopic) procedures: surgery performed inside the uterus to evaluate abnormal bleeding, or to remove polyps, fibroids or scar tissue (adhesions)

If you develop pelvic pain or abnormal bleeding, call Park Avenue Women’s Center or book an appointment online today.