Thomasville Medical Center surgeons can currently provide minimally invasive gynecologicsurgery in the areas of:
Dilation and Curettage
Dilation and curettage is more commonly known as uterine scraping.
Dilation and curettage is a fairly minor surgical procedure in which the cervix is dilated and the lining of the uterus is scraped. The procedure may be performed in the hospital or in a clinic using general or local anesthesia.
Surgery: The vaginal canal is held open by a speculum and the opening to the uterus may be anesthetized. The inner layer of the uterus is scraped away and the tissue is collected for examination.
Endometrial Ablation Treatment
This procedure is a quick, safe, simple, one-time. This minimally invasive procedure controls heavy bleeding by using energy to remove the lining of the uterus. The average treatment time is about 90 seconds, and only needs to be performed once to lighten or stop your periods. No pretreatment drugs are required.
Without the side effects of hormones or the risks of hysterectomy, edometrial ablation has a quick recovery time so you can get back to your life sooner. Most women experience no pain after the procedure, and can return to work and regular activities the next day
Endometriosis
Surgical treatment of endometriosis is an option for women whose symptoms recur after initial treatment with hormones.
Endometriosis is one of the most common, non-cancerous gynecologic conditions. The endometrium is the tissue that lines the uterus. When this tissue grows somewhere else in the body it is called endometriosis. These abnormal growths may cause mild to severe pelvic pain, especially during menstruation. Endometriosis may also be associated with infertility.
Treatment for endometriosis can be either medical or surgical. Various oral and injectable hormones are available to help slow the growth of endometriosis. Although significant improvement results from initial treatment in some patients, others have recurring symptoms and persistent disease. Recent studies demonstrate that endometriosis can be managed equally well with laparoscopic removal.
Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy, surgical removal of the uterus, is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the United States.
Abdominal hysterectomy typically requires a four to six day hospital stay, followed by four to six weeks recuperating at home. Laparoscopy makes it possible to perform this procedure in a minimally invasive manner. Patients usually go home one or two days after surgery and are able to resume normal activities within a week or two.
Surgery: Laparoscopic surgery uses a thin, telescope-like instrument called a laparoscope, which is inserted through a small incision at the belly button. The laparoscope is connected to a tiny video camera which projects a view of the operative site onto video monitors in the operating room. The abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide gas to allow your surgeon a better view of the operative area. Three or four additional small incisions are made near the laparoscope through which the surgeon inserts specialized surgical instruments. The surgeon uses these instruments to detach the uterus and seal its supporting blood vessels. The uterus is removed through the vagina. Following the procedure, the small incisions are closed with sutures and covered with Band-Aids. After a few months, the incisions are barely visible.
Hysteroscopy for Abnormal Menstrual Menstural Bleeding
Hysteroscopy is a procedure used to treat abnormal menstrual bleeding. If menstrual bleeding lasts longer or is heavier than usual it is considered abnormal.
There are many reasons for abnormal menstrual bleeding, including benign growths within or around the uterus, menopause, hormone imbalance, weight loss or gain, heavy exercise, stress, illness, or the use of drugs.
Surgery: This procedure uses a hysteroscope which is a thin, telescope-like instrument that is inserted into the vagina. It is passed through the cervix and into the uterus, enabling your physician to look inside the uterus. Hysteroscopy may help the doctor find the cause of abnormal bleeding.
Although hysteroscopy is used to diagnose certain conditions, it may be used to correct them as well. If an abnormal condition is detected during a diagnostic hysteroscopy, an operative hysteroscopy can be performed at the same time and the need for a second procedure is avoided. Hysteroscopy is usually performed in the operating room under general anesthesia, and it may be used instead of "open" abdominal surgery.
Uterine Fybroids
Laparoscopic surgery can be used to remove uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths in the uterus that occur in about 25 percent of all women. Although fibroids are not cancerous, they can cause problems due to their size, number, or location. Laparoscopic surgical removal of fibroids is performed through several small incisions instead of one larger abdominal incision.
Urinary Incontinence with a Bladder Sling
Bladder slings can be effectively used to treat stress-related female urinary incontinence but typically aren’t effective when it comes to treating urge-related female incontinence. So, if you’ve been diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence and weakening of your urethral muscles, you may be an excellent candidate for a bladder sling procedure. The operation can produce enough urethral compression to allow you regain control of your bladder. They can be placed during a, minimally invasive, outpatient procedure.
