Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgeries
Minimally invasive surgery is almost always the procedure of choice when surgical treatment is needed.
What Is Minimally Invasive Surgery?
Minimally invasive surgery uses highly specialized, technologically advanced instruments, as well as innovative surgical techniques to improve patient outcomes following surgery.
- Surgical equipment used in these procedures include miniature cameras and tiny instruments that enter the body via very small, flexible tubes. The dexterity of a robotic arm and real-time video imaging allow an unparalleled level of surgical precision.
- Surgical techniques often involve making only the smallest incision necessary, utilizing existing pathways in the body where possible, and approaches that allow your surgeon to preserve healthy tissue surrounding the surgery site.
The OB-GYN specialists at Women’s HealthFirst are well-versed in the use of minimally invasive tools and techniques to treat a variety of gynecological conditions. Our doctors have trained with world-renowned experts in the region, and the providers at Women’s HealthFirst are recognized by their medical colleagues as leaders in the field of minimally invasive gynecological surgery.
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery
Minimally invasive surgery provides patients significant advantages over more traditional operating methods. These benefits include:
- Reduced post-op pain
- Faster recovery after surgery
- Little to no scarring
- Same-day, outpatient surgery
- Shorter stays, when hospitalization is required
- Quicker return to everyday activities
- Lower costs
Common Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgeries
Some of the most common types of minimally invasive procedures performed by the highly skilled surgeons at Women’s HealthFirst include:
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg becomes implanted in tissue outside the uterus – most often, in the fallopian tube. This can cause the tube to rupture and lead to internal bleeding. An ectopic pregnancy is considered a life-threatening condition.
Inflammation, the presence of scar tissue, and the growth of uterine fibroids can all block the travel of an egg from fallopian tube to uterus, causing it to get stuck in the fallopian tube and implant there. Women diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease (a type of STD) or endometriosis have an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy.
A minimally invasive procedure called a laparoscopy can be used to successfully treat an ectopic pregnancy. It involves making a small incision in or near the bellybutton and the use of a thin flexible tube with a light and camera (a laparoscope).
A laparoscopy to treat an ectopic pregnancy is usually done in one of two ways, depending on how damaged the fallopian tube is:
- Salpingostomy – just the ectopic pregnancy is removed, leaving the fallopian tube
- Salpingectomy – the ectopic pregnancy and the tube are removed
Pelvic pain and infertility are common issues that bring a woman to her OB-GYN provider’s office.
Minimally invasive procedures – such as laparoscopy, robotic-assisted myomectomy, or procedures in which instruments access the surgical site via the vaginal canal – can be used to diagnose and treat many gynecological conditions that can cause pelvic pain and infertility.
Conditions that may be treated with a minimally invasive procedure include:
- Endometriosis
- Ovarian cysts
- Adhesions
- Complications of pelvic infection, such as due to pelvic inflammatory disease or other STDs
- Uterine fibroids
Endometrial ablation is a safe and effective minimally invasive procedure that destroys a thin layer of tissue that lines the uterus, without actually removing the uterus. It is performed via entry through the vaginal canal, so there are no noticeable stitches afterward. Endometrial ablation is used to treat heavy menstrual bleeding.
It is considered a conservative alternative to having a hysterectomy, in which the entire uterus is surgically removed, possibly along with other pelvic organs. Even so, having an endometrial ablation makes it difficult if not impossible for a fertilized egg to properly implant within the uterus. So, both procedures – endometrial ablation and hysterectomy – are not recommended for women who wish to become pregnant in the future.
Should you require a hysterectomy, the providers at Women’s HealthFirst can perform a minimally invasive surgical technique called a laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH). This allows for removal of the uterus – and possibly also the fallopian tubes and ovaries – via the vaginal canal rather than the customary, large-incision abdominal approach. You should discuss with your doctor whether this is a viable choice for you.
Need Outpatient OB-GYN Surgery Near Chicago, Illinois?
Do you need a gynecological surgery? You may not have to settle for a procedure involving a traditional, large-incision surgical approach. At Women’s HealthFirst in northwest suburban Chicago, we understand that patients prefer the benefits of minimally invasive procedures whenever possible – including a faster post-op recovery, little to no scarring, and reduced post-op pain. Who wouldn’t want that?
Find out what your minimally invasive procedure options are by calling the OB-GYN specialists at Women’s HealthFirst at (847) 808-8884. You can also request a consultation with one of our providers now. We look forward to seeing you at one of our five convenient locations near Chicago, Illinois.
