Laparoscopy procedure is a widely used medical technique that centers around taking a biopsy of internal female reproductive organs such as the uterus, fallopian tubes as well as ovaries. Initially, the procedure was used with cancer patients and was used to get a biopsy of the liver and study it. Essentially, the laparoscopy procedure is used to help diagnose, stage as well as eventually treat a number of cancers. Advances in the technique around 2002 have also seen it being used to remove cancerous growth - but this practice is still viewed as being very controversial in medical circles. Other surgeries that are not related to cancer such as the removal of the appendix or removal of the gallbladder also make use of laparoscopy.
Pelvic laparoscopy may be required in a number of instances such as when the tissue that travels from the uterus to the fallopian tubes, known as the endometriosis, starts to swell and bleed during menstruation or even if the individual suffers from pelvic inflammatory disease. The growth of non cancerous fibroids in the muscular walls of the uterus may also require a laparoscopy procedure to be performed. Irritable bowel syndrome and interstitial cystitis may require the treatment as well.
In most cases, the patient will be subjected to general anesthesia while some cases may only require local anesthesia. With the patient lying on the operating table, a small incision will be made around the belly button or lower abdomen and the abdominal cavity will be filled with carbon dioxide. This will cause the abdomen to swell and lift the abdominal wall away from the internal organs – giving the doctor more space to work with during the surgery. Once this has been performed, a laparoscope which is a fiber optic rod is inserted. This acts as a light source and video camera that allows the surgeon to view the internal organs on the monitor present in the operating theater. In the event if the surgeon decides that the surgery cannot be performed by laparoscopy, a bigger abdominal incision will be made and the required surgery carried out.
Laparoscopy procedure comes with risks that are known to affect women based on certain lifestyles. For example, women who smoke, are overweight or even suffer from some kind of cardiovascular disease or pulmonary disease fall into this category. It is important that you discuss all the possible risks of the procedure with your physician at length before going in for the surgery.