Using minimally invasive surgeries for patients that require gynecological procedures is the principle idea practiced by doctors and surgeons around the world. Minimally invasive surgeries include laparoscopy and hysteroscopy operations. The most important advantages of these operations are:
- Short stay at the hospital;
- Incisions made on the abdomen during laparoscopic operations are quite small;
- Recovery is faster compared with open surgeries;
- As the surgeon gets a wider view, it becomes easier to perform the operation;
- Complication rates are lower;
- At any point of the operation, the surgeon has an option to move to open surgery.
To facilitate laparoscopic operations the abdominal cavity is first filled with a special gas. Incisions of 2 to 3 mm are made on the abdominal skin, and cameras and operative arms are inserted through these incisions into the abdomen. Necessary interventions are performed using these operating arms and cameras. Gynecological laparoscopies are performed to;
- Ligate or completely remove fallopian tubes due to hydrosalpinx (accumulation of inflammatory fluid inside fallopian tubes);
- Remove ovarian cyst. Most of the time these are endometrioma or “chocolate cysts”, simple ovarian cysts, dermoid cysts;
- Remove myoma (uterine fibroid);
- Terminate ectopic pregnancies;
- Cut intra-abdominal adhesions that may cause chronic pain and infertility.
Hysteroscopy is a minimally invasive operation during which the inside of the womb is examined with the help of a camera. It is usually carried out under general anesthetic or sedation. This operation may last between 15 and 30 minutes. There is no need to stay in the hospital overnight after a hysteroscopy. After a short rest, the patient may be discharged. Hysteroscopies may be performed to:
- Remove any polyps from inside of the womb;
- Remove myomas (uterine fibroid) from within the womb;
- Cut adhesions inside the womb;
- Cut septum in the womb;
- Remove any leftover pregnancy material from the wombs of patients who have miscarried;
- İn some cases diagnostic hysteroscopy may be performed to examine the womb in cases with recurrent pregnancy loss or recurrent IVF failures.
