Minimally invasive surgery consists of surgical procedures in which the organs of the body are accessed through very small incisions or without them. This has the advantage of causing fewer scars on the outside (skin) and on the inside by reducing the risk of adhesions (internal scars that stick organs to each other). It also allows for faster recovery and less postoperative pain allowing the person to re-incorporate faster into their life routine.
Laparoscopy
During my professional career I have performed more than 1000 laparoscopic surgeries benefiting many patients in the region and abroad. Learn more about this minimally invasive surgery technique.
Laparoscopy consists of inserting a lens or telescope (laparoscope) with a camera through the navel in order to visualize the organs of the pelvis and abdomen.
Laparoscopy helps diagnose and treat many gynecological problems including: Chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, adhesions, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Also through laparoscopy one can remove the uterus or womb (hysterectomy) allowing a quick and virtually painless recovery in patients.
Laparoscopy is performed under general anesthesia but on an outpatient basis, it does not require hospitalization. Once the patient is asleep, a needle is inserted through the navel to fill the abdomen with CO2 (carbon dioxide) in order to move the abdominal wall away from neighboring organs and reduce the risk of injury. The laparoscope is then inserted by making a small incision at the navel level and visualizing the abdominal and pelvic organs. To operate, 2 to 3 additional small incisions are made in the pelvis, usually no larger than 5 mm. With the purpose of introducing instruments to pull, separate and cut using mechanical energy (scissors), electric or laser beams for this purpose.
In addition to the risks inherent in general anesthesia, there are risks common to any surgery, such as infections and bleeding with bruises on the abdominal wall, but the greatest risk is damage to the intestine, bladder, ureter or blood vessel that may require additional surgery. The risks depend on the pathology and the patient’s history, but in general terms they are not frequent. If all complications are considered, it is estimated that less than 1% of women undergoing laparoscopy present some complication normally without major consequences. It has been estimated that the risk of dying during a laparoscopy is 3 in 100,000.
Hysteroscopy
Hysteroscopy is a type of minimally invasive surgery in which the uterus or womb is accessed without the need for any incisions. Learn more about this procedure.
The hysteroscopy consists of introducing a thin lens or telescope (hysteroscope) with a camera through the vagina to access the uterine cavity or womb in order to diagnose and correct any abnormalities such as polyps, fibroids, scars or adhesions and birth defects (Congenital).
Hysteroscopy is useful and is recommended for evaluating women with infertility, miscarriages, or abnormal uterine bleeding.
The hysteroscope is introduced into the uterine cavity through the cervix without the need for any incisions. To spread the walls of the uterus and achieve a better visualization, sterile saline is injected through the hysteroscope and through an operative channel special thin scissors and special tweezers can be inserted to remove lesions such as polyps, fibroids and scar tissue. Also through hysteroscopy certain congenital anomalies can be corrected as a septum that divide the interior of the uterine cavity and can favor abortions.
Perforation of the uterus is the most common complication, as the diameter of the hysteroscope is very thin, the perforation closes spontaneously but potentially could cause damage to a neighboring organ such as the bowel and bladder or cause bleeding that does not allow completing the procedure and requiring of some additional intervention. It can also happen that the fluids that are used to distend the uterus are absorbed in too much quantity and produce an imbalance of the electrolytes in the blood. The risk of complications in hysteroscopy is less than 1%.