Over the past decade, advances in surgical techniques have rapidly changed women’s health care. Now, less invasive approaches to accomplish the same goals of more traditional surgeries have become available. Traditional methods of gynecologic surgery typically involve large abdominal or vaginal incisions. Hospital stays with these methods usually last for several days, and recovery could take one to several months.
The ability to miniaturize equipment and use cameras to see inside the body has led to the advanced technology used in minimally invasive surgery. During minimally invasive surgery, small, thin fiberoptic scopes and laparoscopic surgical instruments are introduced in to the body through a few small incisions – each measuring less than half an inch in length. The technology allows us to visualize in detail and delicately manipulate small organs, arteries, and veins, thus reducing tissue damage and blood loss. Surgery time, anesthesia time, blood loss, and infection rate are all significantly reduced. The result has been less painful procedures with shorter hospitalizations, fasterrecovery times, less tissue damage, as well as reduced healthcare costs. Patients typically go home a few hours after their surgery, and time awayfrom work is usually one to two weeks.
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy utilizes the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques to remove the uterus through small (lcm) abdominal incisions. This procedure is indicated for heavy and irregular menstruation unresponsive to medical management, symptomatic fibroids, or pelvic pain from endometriosis/adenomosis or pelvic adhesive disease.
In the Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy, or LSH, the uterus is excised laparoscopically and removed, leaving a portion of the cervix behind. A special device called a morcellator is utilized to cut the uterine specimen into strips that are removed through a one-half inch diameter incision. The cervix is left in place to maintain sexual sensation and function. It also serves as prevention for future pelvic floor or vaginal apex prolapse. The procedure requires general anesthesia with a hospital stay, either as same-day surgery or overnight. There is usually less blood loss and less post-operative pain than traditional abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy. Recovery before returning to work is usually 10 days to 2 weeks.
Operative Hysteroscopy
Hysteroscopy is the use of a telescope-like instrument with a video camera to visually inspect the lining of the uterus (endometrium). It is commonly used to diagnose problems of the lining of the lining of the uterus including endometrial polyps, submucosal uterine fibroids, and uterine anomalies.
Operative hysteroscopy requires general or regional anesthesia and can be performed as an outpatient procedure.
To learn more about any of these procedures, please ask the doctor. To make an appointment to see Dr. Dafashy, please call 281-991-7603.
Offices in the South East Houston and Pasadena area, also near Deer Park, South Houston, La Porte, Baytown and Clear Lake, Texas
