Pelvic laparoscopy

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Pelvic laparoscopy

Endometriosis

Pelvic adhesions

Ovarian cyst

Overview

Recovery

Risks

Pelvic laparoscopy

Alternative Names:

Celioscopy; Band-aid surgery; Pelviscopy

Expectations after surgery:

Laparoscopic procedures are growing more popular with physicians, especially with the advent of more high-tech laparoscopes.

Many of the procedures can be done on an outpatient basis, but an overnight stay may be necessary. Average time of surgery is about an hour, but this depends on the procedure performed.

Whether used as a diagnostic or as a therapeutic procedure, laparoscopy may eliminate the need for a large incision in the abdomen and a longer hospital stay. Laparoscopic surgery can be considered major surgery, depending on the procedure planned.

Unless major problems are uncovered during the procedure (such as severe bleeding, or an ectopic pregnancy), laparoscopy may be the only operation needed.

Convalescence:

The gas pumped into the abdomen may cause abdominal discomfort for 1 or 2 days after the procedure.

Occasionally, neck and shoulder pain may be noted for several days after a laparoscopy as the carbon dioxide gas escapes through the skin. Normal activities may be resumed in less than 2 days.

Sexual activities may be resumed as soon as bleeding, if any, has stopped. Call your doctor if you have severe abdominal pain, persistent fever, or vaginal bleeding.

Review Date: 6/6/2006
Reviewed By: Audra Robertson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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