Uterine fibroids are a normally benign tumor that can develop inside the muscular wall, inside the uterine cavity or on the external surface of the organ. Myomectomy is the surgical intervention by which uterine fibroids are removed. Laparoscopic myomectomy is the most precise and careful technique for removing a fibroid or several uterine fibroids through minimal incisions of less than 15 mm in the abdomen.
This technique uses a video camera with cold light that allows us to magnify the images, which allows specialists to achieve greater precision in the dissection of healthy tissues by separating them from uterine fibroids, avoiding large blood losses and uterine muscle tears during surgery.
In what cases is this uterine fibroid removal technique used?
Uterine fibroids are indicated for surgery when we observe an exaggerated growth in a short period of time or when they begin to produce symptoms depending on the location of the myoma with respect to the endometrial cavity or neighboring organs of the uterus, such as the bladder and rectum.
In cases where the myoma invades the endometrial cavity there will be an increase in the volume and frequency of bleeding both with and outside the period, if the myoma is located towards the bladder may cause increased urinary frequency and if it is located towards the rectum may cause cramping abdominal pain or constipation.
How long does the procedure last?
The laparoscopic myomectomy procedure lasts from 45 to 90 minutes depending on the location of the fibroids, with the surgical time being shorter for fibroids with a subserosal component and longer for fibroids with a submucosal and intramural component.
Recovery process after surgery
Dr. Gustavo Salazar points out that laparoscopic surgery has a clear advantage over conventional open surgery, since the recovery process is very fast and in most operations it is only necessary to spend one night in the hospital.
On the other hand, he reminds us that during the first week it is important not to make any intense physical effort, although this does not prevent the patient from moving around normally. After the first week following the operation, physical movement progresses and patients are able to carry out their work activities that do not require intense physical demands.
Can a woman become pregnant after the operation?
The time to look for a pregnancy after laparoscopic myomectomy will depend on the type of intervention performed on the patient.
We are talking about 3 to 9 months depending on the type of surgery, being about 3 months for myomas with an exclusive subserosal component, about 6 months for interventions of intramural myomas where the endometrial cavity has not been entered and 9 months for interventions where it has been necessary to enter the endometrial cavity for the extraction of the myoma, being this type of intervention for myomas with a submucosal and intramural component in some cases.