Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital - Gynaecological Surgery

Lletz (Large Loop Excision of the Transformation Zone) A thin wire loop that has an electrical current running through it is used to scrape abnormal cells from the cervix.   Laser Treatment of the Cervix A laser beam (high energy light) is used to destroy abnormal cells of the cervix.   Cone Biopsy of the Cervix A cone of tissue is surgically removed from the cervix for examination in the laboratory.

A speculum is inserted into your vagina, as for a pap smear, and the light from a small microscope (colposcope) is focused on to the cervix. Special staining solutions are painted onto the cervix which show up abnormal cells. A biopsy (small tissue sample) may be taken to examine in the laboratory.

Incisions (cuts) are made in the abdomen (stomach) to allow access to your bladder. The vagina is lifted and attached to the pelvis wall, allowing the bladder neck to be supported, thus correcting urine leakage.

A long, thin tube with a tiny camera attached (cytoscope) is inserted into the urinary opening and through your urethra (the tube that carries urine from your bladder to the outside of your body) to your bladder. This allows the urologist to view any abnormalities in your lower urinary tract and, if necessary, take a small tissue sample to look at under the microscope (biopsy).

Metal dilators are inserted through your vagina and used to widen the opening to the uterus. A curette (an instrument with a flat metal loop at one end) is then used to scrape the lining of the uterus.

Laparascopic: an incision (cut) is made near your navel (tummy button) and a thin tube with a tiny camera attached (laparoscope) is inserted, allowing the surgeon a view of the internal organs. If endometriosis is being treated, small instruments are introduced through several small cuts in the lower abdomen and endometrial tissue is destroyed using an electric current or laser beam.

Abdominal (laparotomy): if endometriosis is very widespread, an incision is made in the abdomen, opening up the abdominal cavity so that the endometrial tissue can be removed.

A speculum is inserted into your vagina, as for a pap smear, and a long, thin tube with a tiny camera attached (hysteroscope) is placed into the vagina and moved through into the uterus. This allows the surgeon to see inside the uterus and may, in some cases, show the reason for conditions such as infertility or pelvic pain. A hysteroscope may also be used to remove fibroids or polyps or to take a biopsy (small sample of tissue) for examination in the laboratory.

Laparoscopic: an incision (cut) is made in your navel (tummy button) and several small cuts in the abdomen (stomach). A thin telescopic instrument (laparoscope) and several small instruments are inserted into the cuts and moved through into the uterus allowing the surgeon to view the fibroids. Small fibroids can then be removed either by introducing small surgical tools to cut them away or by vaporising them with a laser or electric current. For large fibroids, an incision is made across your abdomen and the fibroids are cut out of the uterus.   Hysteroscopic: a speculum is inserted into your vagina, as for a pap smear, and a long, thin tube with a tiny camera attached (hysteroscope) is placed into the vagina and moved through into the uterus. This allows the surgeon to see inside the uterus and remove the fibroids.

Laparascopic: several small incisions (cuts) are made in your abdomen (stomach) and a thin tube with a tiny camera attached (laparoscope) inserted, allowing the surgeon a view of the ovaries. Small surgical instruments are introduced through the other cuts and are used to remove the ovary and tie off the fallopian tube.

Abdominal: an incision is made in the abdomen, the ovary is surgically removed and the fallopian tube tied off.

Several small incisions (cuts) are made in your abdomen (stomach) and a thin tube with a tiny camera attached (laparoscope) inserted, allowing the surgeon a view of your ovaries. Small instruments are inserted through the cuts and into the ovaries, where they remove the cysts.

An incision (cut) is made in your navel (tummy button) and several small cuts in the abdomen (stomach). A thin telescopic instrument (laparoscope) is inserted through your navel, allowing the surgeon a view of the pelvic floor. Small instruments are inserted into the cuts that can lift the prolapsed or sagging organs back into position and reattach them.

Small incisions (cuts) are made in your lower abdomen (stomach) and in the front wall of the vagina. Synthetic tissue is inserted to form a supportive sling under the urethra at the bladder neck to prevent urine leakage.

Laparoscopic: several small incisions (cuts) are made in your abdomen (stomach) and a thin tube with a tiny camera attached (laparoscope) inserted, allowing the surgeon a view of your fallopian tubes. Small surgical instruments are introduced through the other cuts and are used to remove part or all of the fallopian tube.

Abdominal (laparotomy): an incision is made in your abdomen and part or all of the fallopian tube is removed.

A sample of tissue (biopsy) is surgically removed from a lesion (area of damaged tissue) on your vulva. If the lesion is cut out completely, the procedure is called an excision.