A laparoscopy is a surgical procedure that may be used to diagnose and treat various conditions, including endometriosis.

A laparoscopy for endometriosis is a low-risk and minimally invasive procedure. It’s typically performed under general anesthesia by a surgeon or gynecologist. Most people are released from the hospital on the same day. Overnight monitoring is sometimes required, though.

Endometriosis has been estimated to affect up to 10% of women. Approximately four out of every 1,000 women are hospitalized as a result of endometriosis each year. Women ages 25–35 are most affected, with 27 being the average age at diagnosis. The incidence of endometriosis is higher among white women and among women who have a family history of the disease.

Preparation & Procedure :

Patient may be instructed to not eat or drink for at least eight hours leading up to the procedure. Most laparoscopies are outpatient procedures. That means you don’t need to stay at the clinic or hospital overnight. However, if there are complications, you may need to stay longer.

The patient is given anesthesia before the procedure commences. The method of anesthesia depends on the type and duration of surgery, the patient’s preference, and the recommendation of the physician. General anesthesia is most common for operative laparoscopy, while diagnostic laparoscopy is often performed under regional or local anesthesia. A catheter is inserted into the bladder to empty it of urine; this is done to minimize the risk of injury to the bladder.

For this procedure, three or four incisions may be made in the woman’s lower abdomen (A). Carbon dioxide is pumped into the abdomen to create a condition called pneumoperitoneum, which gives the surgeon more room to work (B). A laparoscope with video monitor is used to view the internal structures, while endometrial growths are removed with other tools (C).

Post OP Care – After procedure :

After the procedure is completed, the patient will usually spend several hours in the recovery room to ensure that she recovers from the anesthesia without complication. After leaving the hospital, she may experience soreness around the incision, shoulder pain from the gas used to inflate the abdomen, cramping, or constipation. Most symptoms resolve within one to three days.

You should avoid certain activities immediately after your surgery. These include:

• intense exercise
• bending
• stretching
• lifting
• sexual intercourse

It can take a week or more before you’re ready to return to your regular activities.

Alternatives :

Severe endometriosis may need to be treated by more extensive surgery. Conservative surgery consists of excision of all endometrial implants in the abdominal cavity, with or without removal of bowel that is involved by the disease. Semi-conservative surgery involves removing some of the pelvic organs; examples are hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) and oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries). Radical surgery involves removing the uterus, cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes (called a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy).