Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy is a surgical procedure used to remove ovarian cysts. Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can develop on the ovaries. While many cysts are harmless and resolve on their own, some may cause pain, discomfort, or complications.
What is Ovarian cysts?
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop on or inside one or both of a woman’s ovaries. The ovaries are small, egg-shaped organs located in the lower abdomen, on either side of the uterus. They produce eggs (ova) and hormones (estrogen and progesterone).
Most ovarian cysts are harmless and cause no symptoms. They often disappear on their own within a few months. There are different types of ovarian cysts, and some are more likely to cause problems than others.
Types of Ovarian cysts
Here are some of the different types of ovarian cysts:
- Functional cysts: These are the most common type of ovarian cyst. They form during a woman’s menstrual cycle. There are two types of functional cysts:
- Follicular cysts: These cysts form when a follicle, which is a sac that contains an egg, doesn’t rupture and release the egg as it normally would during ovulation.
- Corpus luteum cysts: These cysts form when a follicle ruptures and releases an egg, but the empty follicle seals shut and fills with fluid.
- Endometriomas: These cysts are filled with tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium). Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus.
- Dermoid cysts: These cysts can contain hair, skin, or other tissues.
- Cystadenomas: These are noncancerous tumors that can grow large.
When you need to visit obgyne for Ovarian Cystectomy?
Here are some of the main factors a doctor considers when recommending this procedure:
- Size: Large cysts (typically over 5 cm) are more likely to need removal due to increased risk of rupture, torsion (twisting of the ovary), or causing pain.
- Persistence: Cysts that don’t disappear on their own after a few menstrual cycles are more likely to be recommended for removal.
- Symptoms: If a cyst is causing symptoms like
- Pelvic pain,
- Bloating, or
- Difficulty urinating,
- Difficulty in pregnancy
In the above cases, cyst removal may be recommended to improve comfort.
- Cancer risk: If there’s any concern about the cyst being cancerous based on imaging or blood tests, a laparoscopic cystectomy can be used for both diagnosis and removal. This is especially important for postmenopausal women as the risk of ovarian cancer increases with age.
- When you’re in the perimenopausal age group, any new or complex cysts are considered suspicious and require evaluation through MRI and a blood test known as CA125. You will then require either laparoscopy or robotic surgery to remove the cyst
- Fertility goals: Laparoscopic surgery is preferred for women who want to preserve their fertility because it’s minimally invasive and aims to save as much healthy ovarian tissue as possible.
Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy Procedure – Dr Astha Approach
Dr. Astha makes small incisions in the abdomen during a laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy, inserting a thin, flexible tube with a camera (laparoscope) to view the pelvic organs. Then insert surgical instruments through additional small incisions to remove the cyst, preserving as much healthy ovarian tissue as possible.
Recovery After Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy
This minimally invasive approach typically results in
- Vey less pain,
- Faster recovery time, and
- Very smaller scars compared to traditional open surgery.
- Can Discharge from same day
Final Conclusion
At Last, Dr. Astha Dayal says it’s usually the best option when it’s possible, especially for smaller cysts or when keeping the baby’s fertility in mind is important. Laparoscopic cystectomy is a good idea depends on things like the cyst’s size and location, as well as the patient’s overall health.
Both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes can utilize a laparoscopic cystectomy. Postmenopausal women are particularly susceptible to an elevated risk of ovarian cancer because of the correlation between age and the likelihood of developing the disease.
