Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a one of the major Gynaecological issues affecting women and therefore is receiving lot of attention and support at various levels.
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining – endometrium – grows outside the uterus. It is most commonly found on the peritoneum, ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, bladder, pouch of Douglas.
Symptoms vary from patient to patient.
Symptoms may include – pain during periods, chronic pelvic pain or higher pain during intercourse. Endometriosis may cause difficulty in becoming pregnant.
Dr Joshi will take a thorough medical history, as a starting point.
Endometriosis can be reliably diagnosed only by diagnostic laparoscopy.
Surgical treatments available for endometriosis include
Operative Laparoscopy – A laparoscope is inserted through a small incision near the Naval area and abdomen is gently inflated with carbon dioxide gas to improve the visibility and access for the surgeon.
Different techniques used to remove the endometriosis include
Excision surgery – removal of small patches by cutting
Cautery – cutting and burning the affected tissue using an electrical probe
Laser surgery – for excision or cautery
The choice of technique depends on the surgeon as well as location of endometriosis and reasons for surgery.
Sometimes, the laparoscopy may result in a laparotomy – which is making a larger cut to gain better access for the removal of endometriosis. Conversion from laparoscopy to laparotomy may not be a pleasant outcome for the woman; however this is done in the best interest of the patient and improve the chances of success of the treatment. It is not a complication of the laparoscopic procedure.
Every surgical procedure comes with its own risks and some risks could be life-threatening. Please refer to the risks outlined under advanced laparoscopic surgery for details.
RAZNCOG Information Pamphlets
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/endometriosis
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/fibroids