Currently, more and more pelvic and abdominal operations are performed laparoscopically. Reviews of laparoscopy are mostly positive, which prompts many women to go through it. Consider what the peculiarity of the conduction is, the advantages of this method, contraindications and possible complications.
What is laparoscopy?
Such a modern method of treatment and diagnosis as laparoscopy is widely used in gynecology. It refers to a gentle method of surgical intervention.
Judging by the reviews, laparoscopy is an absolutely painless surgical intervention that helps to cope with many pathologies in the organs of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis. It is also a good alternative to abdominal operations, since only small incisions up to 1 cm remain from it.
What is diagnostic laparoscopy
Sometimes it happens that a disease associated with the organs of the pelvic or abdominal cavity cannot be established only by analysis and external symptoms. Therefore, quite often a diagnosis is carried out in the form of a laparoscopy operation, reviews of which can be read below. This method of surgical intervention is accurate, while the effect on the human body is minimal.
Diagnosis by laparoscopic method is prescribed in the case of:
- pain in the abdomen and pelvis not identified;
- gynecological diseases;
- tumors in the abdominal cavity, when you can not only consider the neoplasm, but also take a piece of the affected tissue for further research;
- ascites - fluid in the abdominal cavity;
- liver disease.
The diagnostic procedure is performed under local anesthesia. According to reviews of the fairer sex, who underwent the procedure, a couple of days pass painful sensations at the puncture site. As a rule, patients are discharged on the third day.
It is very important (especially for women) that small scars (up to 1 cm in diameter) are practically invisible on the stomach, and after a week you can return to your usual way of life.
Indications
Very often, this type of treatment is used as laparoscopy in gynecology. According to patients, this procedure is painless, less traumatic, and many were discharged home on day 3-5 and returned to normal activity. In addition, this is a minimal surgical intervention that does not require serious preparation, and also practically does not cause complications in the post-rehabilitation period.
Indications for surgical intervention by this method are as follows:
- the impossibility of conception in a woman (infertility);
- examination of the fallopian tubes for patency (identifying the problem and its elimination);
- ectopic pregnancy;
- inflammation or suppuration of the appendix;
- polycystic, fibroids, and endometriosis;
- secondary dysmenorrhea.
The benefits of manipulation
This minimal surgical intervention has several advantages, which is noted both by specialists and patients. That is why the method is so in demand in modern medical and diagnostic practice.
The advantages of laparoscopy surgery, according to patients:
- almost imperceptible cuts on the abdomen and the absence of rough scars;
- minimal risk of adhesions;
- the operation and rehabilitation period after is short, when compared with conventional surgery;
- minimal risk of infection in the internal organs;
- minor blood loss;
- the possibility of carrying out as a treatment and diagnosis;
- the accuracy of diagnosis is close to 100%.
Laparoscopic infertility treatment is a high chance that a woman’s ability to conceive will be restored. Most often, it is precisely the pathology in the pipes that leads to the inability to get pregnant. To reduce the risk of complications in the female reproductive organs, many women choose precisely the manipulation with a laparoscope.
Reviews of laparoscopy of the fallopian tubes in most cases are associated with the fear of most women that something will go wrong. Some noted that they had been preparing for the operation for several months, but everything went surprisingly well. Simultaneously with laparoscopy, hysteroscopy is also performed, if necessary, to remove polyps, and not just pipe cleaning.
But if there are pronounced adhesions, then even this modern method will not restore the reproductive function by 100%.
Contraindications
Before deciding on surgical intervention, even if minimal, it is worthwhile to familiarize yourself not only with the reviews of tube laparoscopy, which is done to women in 90% of cases when it is impossible to conceive, but also with contraindications.
Limitations on the treatment with this method are divided into direct and relative.
Direct contraindications include:
- disturbances in the work of the heart;
- diseases of the respiratory system (bronchial asthma during the period of exacerbation);
- hernia of the diaphragm or anterior abdominal wall;
- cachexia, that is, sudden weight loss;
- poor blood coagulability;
- infectious diseases in the acute stage;
- high blood pressure.
Relative restrictions include:
- malignant neoplasms in the ovaries;
- obesity (3-4 degrees);
- a pronounced adhesive process (3-4 degrees), which was formed after surgery in the pelvic organs or abdominal cavity;
- the presence of blood in the peritoneum up to 2 l;
- large sizes of pathological formations;
- short fallopian tubes (up to 4 cm);
- tuberculosis tubes.
Preparation
So, judging by the reviews of ovarian laparoscopy, women noted that several months had been preparing morally for the procedure because of fear. And the preparatory process itself begins two weeks before the operation. First, an examination is performed and a number of tests are performed (coalagram, blood for biochemistry, general blood and urine tests, tests for syphilis, hepatitis, HIV, electrocardiogram, fluorography, ultrasound examination of the area where the pathology is located).
Three days before the intervention, it is worth excluding fatty and salty foods from the diet. The day before the surgery, the intestines are cleaned, which gives the specialist access to the organs located in the abdominal cavity. The night before, you should refuse to eat, you can drink only a small amount of water at night. On the day of surgery, neither water nor food is allowed. Women in the pubic area should shave their hair.
Laparoscopy is not performed during menstruation, because at this time, the risk of blood loss is increased. The optimal time is from 15 to 25 days with a 28-day menstrual cycle.
How is the operation
The intervention by the laparoscopic method is minimal, therefore, the operation refers to less traumatic. At the same time, patients themselves, based on reviews of laparoscopy, note that this surgery does not bring significant discomfort.
Stages of treatment:
- Most often, the operation is performed under general anesthesia, if there are contraindications, then there may be local anesthesia.
- On the belly, around the navel, 2-4 cuts are made, where manipulator tubes are inserted (there is no discomfort, since the muscle tissue is practically not damaged).
- Further, gas is introduced through one of the tubes to create volume, and along the other, a laparoscope with a video camera and a flashlight.
- The image is displayed on the screen, so that a specialist can accurately determine the diagnosis and conduct the necessary therapy in the area of localization of the pathology.
- Miniature instruments, such as scissors, electrocoagulators, scalpels, if necessary, are also introduced through the tubes.
- Upon completion of the intervention, which can last from 40 minutes to two hours, depending on the pathology, the doctor takes out the tubes and sutures the area of the incisions.
Rehabilitation
Another evidence in favor of treating various pathologies with this method, including gallbladder removal by laparoscopy, is the testimonials of patients who noted a quick recovery period and the ability to return to their usual activities.
A few hours after the operation, you can walk. Pain medications are taken as needed. If there is a suspicion of an inflammatory process, the doctor prescribes antibacterial agents. The next day, you can lead a familiar lifestyle, but without strong physical exertion. Sex life is allowed in a month. Sutures are removed a week after surgery. At this time, it is also worthwhile to somewhat limit the diet and include more dietary products in it.
In order for rehabilitation to be successful, it is worth adhering to certain rules:
- within 7-10 days after the removal of sutures, these places are treated with antiseptics;
- exclude for a month a visit to baths, saunas, tanning salons;
- at least a month to refrain from physical activity (you can carry items weighing no more than 3 kg);
- refuse to wear tight-fitting synthetic underwear, especially after laparoscopy with polycystic ovaries (puncture sites should not be rubbed with tissue);
- refusal of alcohol, chocolate, carbonated drinks.
Are scars left after surgery?
Many women, of course, are interested in the question of how aesthetically pleasing the place is after surgery by this method. Based on reviews of cyst laparoscopy and other pathologies associated with female reproductive organs, small circles on both sides of the navel are barely noticeable. Scars from punctures and scars are not visible, since the skin was not cut, but punctured. Scars also do not form, since there is no skin contact with the surgeon's instruments, napkins and gloves.
That is why this method is a popular and advanced method of surgical intervention in the pelvic and abdominal cavity.
Possible complications
Despite the fact that the operation is not associated with significant blood loss and is less traumatic, the possible development of complications cannot be ruled out. But these are isolated cases that are most often found from biliary laparoscopy, according to reviews.
The negative consequences include:
- bleeding;
- infection in the internal organs;
- suppuration of scars;
- damage to the peritoneal organs.
In the postoperative period, the patient may be disturbed by sore throat, especially during intubation anesthesia. Discomfort disappears within a few days and does not require special treatment. There may also be pain in the puncture area during the first three days. In this case, pain medications are prescribed.
Reviews
A lot of positive reviews about laparoscopy. Subject to the rules, many women managed to get pregnant six months to a year after the treatment, which clearly indicates the effectiveness of the surgery. But here it is also important not to refuse conservative treatment with hormones.
Some patients noted that together with laparoscopy he underwent hysteroscopy. During this procedure, not only the fallopian tubes were cleaned, but also the polyps were removed. This did not affect the rehabilitation period, which took only 3-5 days.
Patients with cholecystitis noted that with the help of such surgical intervention they reduced the rehabilitation period to five days, while avoiding the risk of developing possible complications (hernias in band surgery).
But there are some patients who were unsatisfied with the laparoscopy. In most cases, these are women who treated the adhesive process with surgery. At the same time, the spikes did not become smaller, but even more. It all depends not only on the right clinic, but also on the qualifications of the specialist and the individual anatomical features of the female body.