Laparoscopic surgery provides an alternative to the more invasive open surgery method for some gynecologic surgical procedures. Typically patients experience less scarring, shorter hospitals stays and a more rapid return to their daily activities when laparoscopic surgery can be performed instead of open surgery. The gynecologic oncologists of The Gynecologic Oncology Center at Mercy work individually with each patient to determine if laparoscopic surgery may be the best treatment option for them. The doctors offer the following procedures in the laparoscopic method:
- Hysterectomy - simple (removal of uterus and cervix) and radical (removal of uterus and cervix plus removal of upper vagina)
- Oophorectomy - removal of one or both ovaries
- Salpingo-oophorectomy - removal of one or both ovaries and one or both fallopian tubes
- Ovarian Cystectomy - removal of ovarian cysts
- Lysis of Adhesions - surgery to remove scar tissue and restore normal function and reduce pain
- Pelvic Mass Resection - surgery to remove a tumor, cyst or growth in the pelvic region
- Myomectomy - surgery for uterine fibroids
- Sacropolpopexy - surgery to correct pelvic organ prolapse (when a woman's pelvic organs slip downward and out of normal position)
- Lymph Node Dissection - surgery to remove and examine the lymph nodes in the pelvis to either prevent the spread of cancer or to understand the extent of the disease
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