Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths in the uterus that occur in about 25 percent of all women. Although fibroids are not cancerous, they can cause problems due to their size, number, or location. Laparoscopic surgical removal of fibroids is performed through several small incisions instead of one larger abdominal incision.
Surgery
Depending on the condition being treated, surgery for uterine fibroids may be performed with an incision or using minimally-invasive techniques. If the surgery is being perfomed laparoscopically, the surgeon uses a thin, telescope-like instrument called a laparoscope, which is inserted through a small incision at the belly button. The laparoscope is connected to a tiny video camera which projects a view of the operative site onto video monitors in the operating room. The abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide gas to allow the surgeon a better view of the operative area. Two or three additional small incisions are made near the laparoscope through which the surgeon inserts specialized surgical instruments. The surgeon uses these instruments to remove the fibroids from the uterus. The fibroid specimen is completely removed through a slightly enlarged incision in the abdomen. Following the procedure, the small incisions are closed with sutures and covered with surgical tape. After a few months, they are barely visible.
