Gynecologic Surgery

Gynecologic Surgery

Gynecologic Surgery is a generic term defining any surgical procedure performed on the female reproductive system or its component organs. There are numerous procedures in this category; they have been developed specifically for the treatment of the various medical conditions which may affect the female reproductive system. Some of these surgical operations are relatively simple procedures which may be performed under regional or local anesthesia (the patient may remain awake during the procedure) while others involve complex and lengthy operations that may only be performed under general anesthesia (the patient is administered medication to become unconscious and to block the pain; the patient will have no memories of the operation or the period of time immediately after it).

Gynecologic Surgery is typically a last resort means of treatment. In most cases, the health care specialists will attempt to use non-invasive medication therapies to treat the patient’s condition. This is also because surgery, even though it has a high rate of success, involves a great deal of stress for the patient and puts her at risk. Severe complications may occur as a result of surgery. However, the safety of such interventions increases constantly with new technology being developed and with new surgical methods becoming available.

In many cases, Gynecologic Surgery is employed to treat disease (for example, to remove malignant tumors, cysts or fibroids), however these are not the only reasons for such surgical procedures. Surgery may also be employed during different stages of pregnancy and labor, to assist with the delivery or to interrupt the pregnancy; also, patients may wish to undergo surgery to prevent further pregnancies. Surgical procedures may also be employed to prevent certain medical complications. Prophylactic surgery is generally employed only when the risk is very high and no other non-invasive preventive methods are available.

Gynecologic Surgery Description

There are several types of Gynecologic Surgery procedures, classified by the part of the reproductive system that is being affected.

Surgical procedures performed on the vagina include episiotomy (an incision in the perineum through which the opening of the vagina is expanded in order to prevent tearing on delivery), colporrhaphy (surgical reconstruction of the vagina after injury or birth), colpotomy (vaginal incision performed to excise cysts, remove uterine fibroids or to perform a tubal ligation operation) and colposcopy (a procedure during which a colposcope is employed to perform visual observation of the cervix and vagina, to test for cancer or to detect any abnormalities present).

Another type of Gynecologic Surgery is the uterine surgery. These are operations performed on the uterus, and they include such procedures as myomectomy (removal of uterine fibroids), cesarean sections (incisions through the uterus and abdomen to assist with the delivery), cervical cerclage (stitching of the cervix to close it, in order to prevent premature birth or miscarriage), cervical cryosurgery (through which certain portions of the cervix are frozen and destroyed; this procedure is employed in situations where precancerous cells have been detected), induced abortion, hysterectomy (the partial or complete removal of the uterus as part of the treatment for uterine cancer, endometriosis, fibroid tumors, uterine prolapse or other affections), hysterotomy (a procedure often performed during cesarean sections, second trimester abortions or open fetal surgery) and dilation and curettage (a procedure through which the lining of the uterus is removed after the cervix is expanded).

Ovarian Gynecologic Surgery operations include oophorectomy (removal of one or both ovaries to prevent or treat cancer, to treat endometriosis or to remove ovarian cysts) and cystectomy (procedure which involves the removal of a part of an ovary in order to treat cysts or tumors). Surgery may also be performed on the fallopian tubes. Salpingostomy (commonly performed for the excision of ectopic pregnancies), salpingectomy (removal of one or both fallopian tubes) and tubal ligation (surgical blocking or severing of the fallopian tubes as a permanent means of birth control) are examples of such operations.

Gynecologic Surgery on the vulva includes operations such as vulvectomy (partial or total removal of the vulva) and hematoma or laceration repair.

Gynecologic Surgery Related Medication

Prior to performing Gynecologic Surgery, the patient may be administered medication to reduce anxiety and to induce relaxation. The site of the operation is cleansed with antibacterial substances as well, and if needed the area of skin covering the site is shaved. Also, prophylactic doses of antibiotics may be administered, in order to prevent infections at the site of the operation. The medicines to be used, as well as the doses and the administration schedule will be determined by the supervising health care professional for each case separately, as these specifications largely depend on the particularities of each case.

In most cases, the surgical procedures require administration of anesthetics; the substances used may vary according to a number of factors. The anesthesia may be local, regional or general, and the medication will be administered by a specialized health care professional. After the initial dose, the patient may be administered repeat doses or she may receive continuous administration of anesthetics for the entire duration of the surgical procedure.

Once the procedure is complete, the patient will enter a period of recovery, during which the supervising health care professional may direct the administration of other medication. Antibiotics, pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed, as well as other types of medicines in order to prevent or control consequences and effects associated with Gynecologic Surgery. Also, in some cases the patient may be required to begin a treatment with hormonal drugs in order to compensate for the decrease of natural hormonal production. Typically, the patient is kept under close medical supervision and her general health state and evolution are being monitored, to detect any signs of complications or side effects.

Other types of medication may also be prescribed and administered, as appropriate to ensure the patient’s safety and recovery. The medicines employed before, during and after Gynecologic Surgery largely depend on the patient’s health state, on the condition being treated and on the surgical procedure. As such, only the supervising health care specialist may provide accurate details regarding the necessary medication therapy.