Many women experience an improvement in their symptoms after a laparoscopy for endometriosis. This page from the eMedTV library describes what happens during this procedure and also outlines the risks and potential benefits.
Your doctor may be recommending laparoscopy for endometriosis to help diagnose and treat your condition. This eMedTV resource explains what endometriosis is and how a laparoscopy offers advantages over traditional surgical methods.
This eMedTV Web page offers tips on how to prepare for a laparoscopy for endometriosis, such as arranging for someone to drive you home. Talking with your doctor about your allergies and medications is a crucial part of the preparation process.
This eMedTV segment tells you what you can expect on the day of your laparoscopy for endometriosis. For example, you will likely experience sights and sounds that are unfamiliar to you, especially in the operating room.
Because it eliminates pain during a laparoscopy for endometriosis, anesthesia is used for this procedure. This eMedTV resource describes the two types of anesthesia (general and spinal), how they are administered, and the possible risks of each.
During a laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis, your doctor will look for and remove endometrial tissue. This eMedTV resource describes in detail what happens during this procedure, from when anesthesia is administered to when tissue is removed.
After a laparoscopy for endometriosis, you will likely experience pain and fatigue. This eMedTV segment discuss common symptoms, such as nausea from the anesthesia, you may have following this procedure, as well as how your doctor will prevent them.
This section of the eMedTV library discusses decreased pain, increased fertility, and other possible results of a laparoscopy for endometriosis. However, as this page explains, results can vary from woman to woman.
Possible complications from a laparoscopy range from nausea to loss of life. This article on the eMedTV Web site provides information and statistics on minor and major risks of a laparoscopy for endometriosis.
As this eMedTV page explains, surgery and medicines, such as birth control pills and progesterone hormones, are alternatives to a laparoscopy for endometriosis. This page offers an in-depth look at these alternatives and how they can improve symptoms.
As this eMedTV article explains, if you are pursuing alternative treatment, you may be wondering what you can expect without a laparoscopy for endometriosis. Your symptoms may improve, stay the same, or get worse without the procedure.
This eMedTV Web page provides more information on open abdominal surgery for endometriosis. Abdominal surgery following a laparoscopy for this condition may be required if serious, unexpected problems occur.
When air used during your surgery goes into the wrong place, it's known as air insufflation. As this eMedTV segment explains, it is important to know that women undergoing a laparoscopy for endometriosis are at risk of air insufflation injuries.
Bleeding with most any surgical procedure is normal and usually stops by itself. However, as this eMedTV article explains, excessive bleeding with a laparoscopy for endometriosis may require a blood transfusion or additional surgery.
Unwanted blood clots, a potential risk of laparoscopy for endometriosis, can lead to serious complications. This eMedTV resource explains the importance of understanding your risk of blood clots with this procedure and how they will be treated.
This page on the eMedTV Web site talks about the reasons for delayed bowel function from a laparoscopy for endometriosis. For example, this can occur to due the anesthesia or if your bowels are moved or touched during the surgery.
During a laparoscopy for endometriosis, a bowel injury can occur due to a burn or a hole in the intestines. This eMedTV page describes what to expect in terms of complications and treatment if you have a bowel injury resulting from this procedure.
When the layer of tissue that holds your abdomen together doesn't heal after surgery, a hernia may develop. This eMedTV Web page gives information on treatment for an incisional hernia after a laparoscopy for endometriosis.
This eMedTV resource provides important facts about infections and your laparoscopy risks. Before your laparoscopy for endometriosis, risks, infections, and possible complications should be explained to you by your healthcare provider.
An adverse, or allergic, reaction to medication is one of the risks of a laparoscopy for endometriosis. As this eMedTV article points out, an allergic reaction can happen with any medication, including anesthesia.
This eMedTV article tells you what you need to know about nerve injury as a risk from a laparoscopy for endometriosis. During this procedure, temporary or permanent nerve damage can occur, leading to complications such as muscle problems.
Organ injury with a laparoscopy for endometriosis is a rare, but possible, complication. As this eMedTV Web page describes, organ injury with this procedure can involve damage to organs such as the intestines, bladder, and uterus.
Scars from most surgical procedures usually heal without any problems, as this eMedTV article explains. However, if you have any questions or concerns, talk with your healthcare provider about abnormal scars after a laparoscopy for endometriosis.
Only 3 to 5 out of 1,000 people will experience a urinary tract injury during laparoscopy for endometriosis. This eMedTV segment describes the causes of urinary tract injuries during this procedure and explains the different treatment options.
