Laparoscopic myomectomy is a minimally invasive surgery to remove uterine fibroids using small incisions and a camera-equipped instrument, preserving fertility by removing fibroids while leaving the uterus intact. The procedure involves creating small abdominal ports for instruments and a laparoscope to view the uterus on a monitor, where the surgeon then dissects and removes the fibroid before closing the uterine incision with sutures. This technique offers faster recovery and a shorter hospital stay compared to open surgery, though it requires advanced surgical skill for intracorporeal suturing and complex fibroid removal.

The Procedure

• Incisions: Small incisions are made in the abdomen to insert instruments.
• Visualization: A laparoscope, a thin tube with a camera and light, is inserted through one of the incisions to provide a magnified view of the fibroid on a video monitor.
• Fibroid Removal: Using specialized instruments inserted through the ports, the surgeon carefully makes an incision into the uterus, dissects the fibroid from the surrounding tissue, and removes it.
• Suturing: The uterine incision is then closed in layers using sutures to facilitate proper healing.
• Specimen Extraction: The fibroid is removed from the abdomen through one of the incisions.

Advantages

• Minimally Invasive: Smaller incisions result in less pain and trauma.
• Faster Recovery: Patients typically recover more quickly and can return to normal activities sooner than with open surgery.
• Shorter Hospital Stay: Patients may only need to stay in the hospital for 24-48 hours.
• Fertility Preservation: It is a good option for women who want to have children in the future because it removes fibroids while preserving the uterus.

Considerations

• Advanced Skills Required: This is a technically demanding procedure that requires advanced laparoscopic suturing skills.
• Fibroid Characteristics: It is generally suitable for patients with a limited number of fibroids and is particularly useful for larger fibroids that are difficult to remove via other methods.