Laparoscopy

Laparoscopy is an outpatient surgical procedure that is used to evaluate a woman’s pelvis. Conditions, such as endometriosis, pelvic adhesions, uterine fibroids, and tubal disease, may be diagnosed during this procedure. Oftentimes, the physician is able to treat these problems during the laparoscopy.

Patients undergoing laparoscopy will have general anesthesia. Once you are asleep, a thin, lighted telescope-like viewing instrument is inserted through the navel and abdominal wall, and your abdomen is filled with carbon dioxide gas. This allows the physician to examine the female reproductive organs and abdominal cavity. Additional small incisions may be made above your pubic bone to allow the physician to move the pelvic organs and perform any necessary surgical procedures. Major complications of laparoscopy are rare, but include damage to the bowel, bladder or blood vessels, infection, and allergic reaction to medications that are used. The risk of death is extremely rare.