Monday, December 28, 2009

Alternative to Abdominal Hysterectomy?


Many women are faced with the decision to undergo a hysterectomy. Suffering from heavy periods, fibroids, endometriosis, or other types of discomfort can lead a gynecologist to suggest traditional abdominal surgery. What many women don’t know is that there are less invasive options which may be considered.

600,000 hysterectomies are performed in the U.S. annually. While upwards of 80% are abdominal surgeries, they could be done as laparoscopic or vaginal hysterectomies, doctors say. A laparoscopic hysterectomy is much less invasive, meaning that the recovery time is much less than traditional more major surgeries.

A traditional abdominal hysterectomy involves a large incision through the abdominal wall. Much anesthesia and pain medication is needed, and the recovery time is approximately 6 weeks. Some Hysterectomy Los Angeles patients may also look to vaginal or laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH). Only certain types of women can undergo this type of surgery, but it is also less invasive than the traditional abdominal surgery. Recovery time is approximately 2 weeks.

In Los Angeles laparoscopic hysterectomy, or total laparoscopic hysterectomy as it is often referred, is becoming more and more popular. This type of surgery is done by a specialized and highly trained gynecological laparoscopic surgeon and involves only small “keyhole” incisions in the abdomen. There is minimal pain and recovery time is often less than 2 weeks.

Aside from the quicker and less painful recovery, the advantage of laparoscopic hysterectomy is that nearly all women are candidates. One factor to consider, however, is the cost. Because it takes a much more skilled surgeon, there are less garden-variety gynecologists available to perform the surgery. That is why it is important to find the right surgeon – one who is experienced in several types of laparoscopic and gynecological surgery and is open and honest with you about all the options available.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Hygiene And Urinary Tract Infections After Cystectomy Study


Stockholm, Sweden-based Division of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet conducted a study to determine whether or not an improved hygiene can lessen the incidence of symptomatic urinary tract infections in patients treated by cystectomy or uterine suspension for urinary bladder cancer.

The study attempted to contact all men and women aged 30-80 years during their follow-up who had undergone cystectomy and gynecological laparoscopic surgery at seven Swedish hospitals.

During a qualitative phase the researchers identified hygienic measures and included them in a study-specific questionnaire. The patients completed the questionnaire at home. Outcome variables were dichotomized and the results presented as relative risks with a 95% confidence interval variable.

The researchers received the questionnaire from 452 (92%) of 491 identified patients. The proportion of patients who had a symptomatic UTI in the previous year was 22% for orthotopic neobladder and cutaneous continent reservoir, and 23% for non-continent urostomy diversion. The relative risk for a UTI was 1.1 (0.5-2.5) for 'never washing hands' before handling with catheters or ostomy material. Patients with diabetes mellitus had a relative risk of 2.1 (1.4-3.2) for having a symptomatic UTI.

The study could not confirm lack of hygiene measures as a cause of UTI for men and women who had a cystectomy Los Angeles sources report. Patients with diabetes mellitus tend to have a greater risk of contracting a UTI. For more information whether in Sweden or Los Angeles laparoscopic hysterectomy patients are encouraged to consult with their local Urogynecology and Laparoscopic Gynecology Specialists to learn more.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Being Informed About Hysterectomy And Other Surgeries


Unless it is for cancer, a hysterectomy or a cystectomy Los Angeles surgeons advise, are often not needed to be done urgently. They advise women to take time in considering these surgical procedures and investigate all the options available including alternative treatments. They say it is always best to seek a second opinion when you receive a recommendation to have a hysterectomy for a non-cancerous condition to ensure it will provide optimal health benefits.

For anyone, deciding whether to have a hysterectomy, uterine suspension, or other kind of surgical procedure can be a difficult and emotional decision.

By becoming informed about the various kinds of surgery for fibroids, prolapse, incontinence or any "cele" repairs, women can confidently discuss available options, concerns and wishes with their doctor, and make a decision that is right for them. Typically, women suffering from excess estrogen are encouraged to consider a Los Angeles laparoscopic hysterectomy procedure to address this concern.

As an alternative, your physician can also recommend simple hormones balancing treatments which involve evaluating your hormones by using a saliva test; this will help determine if you are estrogen dominant. Other ways a patient can take steps to good health is by optimizing his or her diet by lowering insulin levels. Over two-thirds of North Americans are overweight. This extra weight increases insulin levels causing estrogen dominance to increase. Exercise and drinking more water also helps in balancing one’s hormones. For more information about hysterectomy and other treatments, contact your local specialists in urogynecology and advanced gynecological laparoscopic surgery to learn more.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Important Part Of Overall Good Health For Women Of All Ages: Gynecologic Health


Gynecologic services include a wide range of gynecologic care for women, from regular care to minimally invasive surgical operations. Local gynecology specialists provide expertise in all aspects of gynecologic services, including menopause, pelvic prolapse repairs, infertility, contraceptive options, abnormal menstruation and cancer screening.There are also multiple surgical methods for treating uterine prolapse, and surgeons may use more than one technique. Sometimes they will have to be combined with a hysterectomy, but for some women it is possible to avoid this initial step.

One example of the multiple surgical options available is laparoscopic sacral colpopexy, in which a gynecologic surgeon uses minimally invasive surgical techniques to line parts of the vagina with a synthetic mesh, connected to ligaments along the spine.

Other types of surgery include paravaginal defect repairs and repairs of enteroceles and rectoceles (hernias of the intestine or rectum into the vagina). Women suffering from bladder control problems or other urinary complications can feel comfortable knowing that they can get the highest standard of care from their local laparoscopic myomectomy specialists.

Bladder problems are not a normal part of growing older or an unavoidable aftereffect of giving birth. For more information about urinary concerns as well as specific treatments such as laparoscopic excision of endometriosis, contact your local Laparoscopic Gynecologic Surgery and Urogynecology experts to http://www.smallscargyn.com/laparoscopic-sacral-colpopexy.htmlearn more.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Top Los Angeles Surgeon Discusses Laparoscopic Surgery, Hysterectomy


A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. This is one of the most commonly performed gynecologic surgeries in the United States. The reasons for hysterectomy vary from endometriosis and fibroid to cancer. In this country, the majority of hysterectomies are still done through a large abdominal incision or abdominal hysterectomy. Specialists who perform these procedures are also able to do gynecological laparoscopic surgery for patients who have specific pathologies.

Another method of performing a hysterectomy is through the vagina or vaginal hysterectomy. This method is the preferred method compared to abdominal hysterectomy, because it avoids any abdominal incision and is a faster procedure with a decreased recovery time. However, when patients with complicated pathologies including endometriosis, large uterine fibroids, ovarian cyst, extensive or dense adhesions secondary to previous abdominal pelvic surgeries, vaginal hysterectomy becomes difficult or is contraindicated.

In These Cases, Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Should Be Considered

This procedure has all the advantages of vaginal hysterectomy without the large painful abdominal incisional scar and prolonged recuperation time required for abdominal hysterectomy. In gynecological laparoscopic surgery Los Angeles gynecologists can view the abdominal and pelvic cavity in minute details using a laparoscope and enable the surgeon to get into the right surgical planes during surgery with minimal blood loss and tissue damage, while avoiding a large abdominal incision and scar. As a result of this development, gynecologists have an alternative to abdominal hysterectomy when vaginal hysterectomy is difficult, complicated or deemed contraindicated.

Uterine prolapse is a common gynecologic problem that may exist is up 30-50% of parous women. The most common indication for a hysterectomy in women over the age of 50 in the United States is uterovaginal prolapse. The most common symptom is a bulge in the vagina, with possible worsening pelvic discomfort and pressure.

Nowadays, more and more women are choosing to avoid a hysterectomy. Some women desire uterine preservation for personal identity and perceived sexual satisfaction. Others may not have completed their family and desire future fertility. Some woman many not want to undergo major surgery and seek conservative treatments without the need for a hysterectomy. Whatever the reasons, laparoscopic uterine suspension is a safe option and at times a simple alternative to a hysterectomy. The goals of the uterine suspension procedure are to restore anatomy, alleviate symptoms, and preserve uterine function.

The advantage of the laparoscopic approach include superior visualization during the surgical procedure and easier identification of the support ligaments for suspension. The advantage to the patient is that the patient goes home the same day, and the postoperative recovery is much faster.