Surgeons at Western Baptist Hospital perform laparoscopic surgery to help diagnose and treat gynecological problems.

Understanding Diagnostic Laparoscopy

Diagnostic laparoscopy lets your doctor look at your reproductive organs through a tiny incision in your abdomen. By looking through a special fiber-optic instrument called a laparoscope, your doctor can examine your uterus, Fallopian tubes and ovaries and diagnose the cause of problems such as unexplained pain or bleeding that cannot be detected through pelvic exams or x-rays.

Some of the types of common gynecological problems that can be diagnosed and possibly treated with laparoscopy include:

• Adhesions, abnormal scar tissue that can bind the pelvic organs and cause pain;
• Endometriosis, a condition where endometrial tissue (the tissue that lines the uterus) is growing outside the womb;
• Infertility caused by blockages in the Fallopian tubes;
• Ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when a fertilized egg implants in a Fallopian tube instead of the uterus; and
• Biopsying cysts or tumors such a fibroids.

About the Procedure

Diagnostic laparoscopy is usually performed on an outpatient basis in Western Baptist Hospital's surgical center. For general information on what to expect, please refer to our Instructions for Outpatient Surgery.

Before the procedure, you will be given general anesthesia. After you are asleep, your doctor will inflate your abdomen with carbon dioxide gas so he or she can get a clear view of your reproductive organs. Next, the laparoscope, which is about as thick as a pencil, will be inserted through a small incision in your navel. If your doctor finds a problem that can be treated through laparoscopy, he or she may make additional incisions for inserting surgical instruments. At the end of the procedure, the gas will be released and your incision(s) will be closed.

You will then be taken to the recovery area, where nurses will carefully monitor your progress for several hours. Most women can go home the day of the surgery. Because of the after effects of the anesthesia, you must have someone else drive you home. Before you leave, your doctor will provide instructions for your recovery at home.

After Your Surgery

When you get home from the hospital, you may feel very sleepy. Although laparoscopic surgery is minimally invasive, it is still surgery. Plan to take it easy for a few days before resuming your normal activities.

For the first day or so, you may experience shoulder pain, because gas used during the operation to lift the abdomen can't be totally removed. Your doctor can prescribe pain medicine to help make you more comfortable. Nausea may also occur as a result of the anesthesia or of the procedure itself.

Some women experience vaginal bleeding for a few days after the surgery. To avoid infection, you should use sanitary pads rather than tampons.

Your doctor will provide you with instructions about exercise, bathing, caring for your incision and sexual activity. Call your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Severe or increasing pain
• Fever or chills
• Nausea or vomiting
• Swelling or redness around your incision
• Persistent or heavy vaginal bleeding

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