Laser laparoscopy in the treatment of endometriosis: a five-year study

Article Abstract:

Endometriosis is a disease of the female pelvic organs in which the cells that normally line the inside of the uterus dislodge, grow and begin to function in other areas of the body. The pelvic pain and infertility caused by endometriosis are a consequence of the formation of endometrial tissue (adhesions) that inhibit pregnancy or embryo implantation. The diagnosis of endometriosis has been improved by the diagnostic tool called a laparoscope, a small tube affixed with a lighted magnifying end inserted into the abdomen to visualize internal structures. Since endometrial tissue can be manipulated during laparoscopy, major surgery can be avoided. One method of tissue manipulation involves using a carbon dioxide laser system. The benefit of this type of laser is that there is minimal formation of scar tissue or tissue shrinking. The five-year experience with laser surgery performed on 228 patients with endometriosis is reported. Laser surgery was performed at the time of laparoscopy, performed because of pelvic pain or infertility, when a diagnosis of endometriosis was confirmed. Seventy percent of the women were pain-free after laser manipulation. Eighty percent of the 56 infertile women thought to be infertile because of the disease conceived after treatment. Of the 45 patients who achieved pregnancy, nine conceived twice, resulting in a total of 54 pregnancies in the group. Of these, 11 ended in miscarriage, one died and 37 (69 percent) were born live. The high rate of miscarriage is not related to the laser manipulation but is a common finding in women with endometriosis; the normal rate of miscarriage among such women is 15 percent. The procedure was well-tolerated and required a short hospital stay. Laser manipulation of endometrial tissue can be performed at the time of the initial laparoscopy, allowing patients to attempt conception sooner. No injuries or complications were caused by the laser treatments. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Surgery

---

Use of the Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of endometriosis

Article Abstract:

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue, normally found lining the inner surface of the uterus, is found elsewhere is the abdomen. Symptoms can include chronic pelvic pain and infertility. Diagnosis is made by performing a laparoscopy (a small tube inserted into a small abdominal incision to visualize internal structures). Hormone therapy, surgical removal, electrocautery (using electrical current to destroy tissues), and no intervention are current treatments with considerable risks and minimal relief of symptoms. The laparoscopy procedure itself can give immediate relief of symptoms with minimal surgical risks. A laparoscope equipped with carbon dioxide laser (light amplifying beam used to manipulate tissue in surgery) is surgically precise with minimal destruction of surrounding tissue. Disadvantages associated with the carbon dioxide laser are eliminated when using the Nd-YAG sapphire contact-tip system and have similar treatment results.

---

Flashlamp-excited dye laser therapy of idiopathic vulvodynia is safe and effective

Article Abstract:

Flashlamp-excited dye laser treatments may be used as an alternative to surgery in some cases of severe pain of the vulva. Chronic vulvar pain may be caused in part by an overabundance of small blood vessels. Researchers treated 175 women with chronic vulvar pain who had not responded to changes in diet or pelvic floor exercises. A total of 42 of 168 patients (29%) responded after one flashlamp-excited dye laser surgical procedure. The flashlamp-excited dye laser was used because it can cauterize small blood vessels near the surface. A group of 126 women responded with subsequent laser treatments. Nineteen more women were helped by surgery to remove Bartholin's glands. A total of 81% of the women responded to either or a combination of the two treatments.

Vulvar diseases

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Is resectoscopic treatment of atypical endometrial polyps a safe option? Efficacy of maintenance therapy with topical boric acid in comparison with oral itraconazole in the treatment of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis
• Abstracts: New Horizons in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee. The Role of Knee Alignment in Disease Progression and Functional Decline in Knee Osteoarthritis
• Abstracts: Assessing the efficacy of three dentifrices in the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity. The effects of toothpastes on the residual microbial contamination of toothbrushes
• Abstracts: Endoscopic US in the staging of esophageal and gastric cancer. Small, superficial esophageal carcinoma treated with high-dose-rate intracavitary irradiation only
• Abstracts: Prevention of bacterial endocarditis. Pefloxacin treatment of meningitis caused by gram-negative bacteria

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.