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Laparoscopy
This minor surgical procedure enables the viewing of the
pelvic organs.
PURPOSE
This technique is used particularly to investigate the causes of
pelvic pain, when these are not made obvious during a pelvic
examination. The causes of pelvic pain could vary from,
inflammation resulting from infection - Pelvic inflammatory
disease (PID), endometriosis, whereby pieces of the womb lining
are found outside of their normal location to an ectopic
pregnancy, where the fetus has lodged ouside the womb, normally
in the Fallopian tube. Laparoscopy allows for correct diagnosis
of these as well as in the investigation and biopsy of ovarian
tumours, during the diagnosis of infertility, and during in
vitro fertilization (IVF) - whereby eggs are removed from the
woman's ovaries, to be fertilised outside the womb. On the
contrary, laparoscopy is also used in sterilization.
PROCEDURE
While the patient is anaesthetised, the surgeon makes two small
incisions (± 1cm long) in the abdomen, one near the pubic
hairline, into which carbon dioxide gas is pumped, to inflate
the abdomen, separating the intestines from the pelvic organs
and the other almost in the navel. Using an optical instrument
(laparoscope), the surgeon will then inspect the pelvic organs
for any abnormalities. Other minor surgical procedures i.e.
sterilisation can also be carried out through the lower
incision.
RECOVERY
After-effects are minimal, however, you may experience
discomfort due to the gas that was pumped into the abdomen, as
well as slight shoulder pain. This pain is known as 'referred
pain', and will disappear within a couple of days - once the gas
has been absorbed by the body.
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