What happens during surgery to remove endometriosis? How is the surgery performed?



Answers:
It's done through a laparoscopy.

Surgery is usually necessary to improve fertility in patients with endometriosis. Attempts will be made to remove endometriotic tissue, restore pelvic anatomy and improve fallopian tube function. Fertility medications are often prescribed. For patients who are trying to control pain and become pregnant, surgery along with anti-inflammatories and fertility medications may be prescribed.

Because ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results are not diagnostic, surgery is required to confirm endometriosis. A laparoscope, in the form of a narrow tube, is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen. This allows the physician to view areas of endometriosis. Advanced laparoscopic surgery, involving additional small incisions for other instruments, can remove or destroy endometriotic tissue. Sometimes a laser is used in this case.

Open surgery, which involves a larger abdominal incision, is commonly associated with treating very difficult cases of endometriosis in concert with removing the uterus or ovaries. Improvements in laparoscopic instruments and surgical knowledge allow many of these difficult cases to be performed, including removal of reproductive organs, by laparoscopy. Patients who have laparoscopic surgery can usually return to work within 72 hours, but they may be off the job two to four weeks with open surgery.
You will definitely want to visit http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/erc and download the free laparoscopy manual for patients from the "files" section of that group. It describes in great detail, in easy understood terminology, exactly what happens, how it is done, how to best cope after surgery, what to look for in a surgeon to get the best potential for long-term remission (there is no cure but there is help), etc.etc. There are a ton of tips on how to handle the surgery before and after, etc. Membership is required to join but it's totally free. See also http://www.endocenter.org. Good luck and best wishes.
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