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 stay usually lasts 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 and
inch in length. The technology allows us to visualize in
detail and delicately manipulate small organs such as 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, quicker recovery
times, less tissue damage, as well as reduced health-care
costs. Patients typically go home a few hours after their
surgery, and time out from work is ually 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 fuction. It also serves as a 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.
Elevate®
Elevate, Anterior and Apical, is a minimally invasive, comprehensive solution that provides Level I and Level II support to treat anterior and apical defects. Elevate utilizes self-fixating tips that allow for safe, simple and precise mesh placement in the sacrospinous ligament and the obturator internus muscle through a single vaginal incision.
To learn more about any of these procedures, please ask the doctor. To
make an appointment to see Dr. Dafashy or Dr. Gillman, please call 281-991-7603.
