When is surgery required for endometriosis?

Top Doctors recently spoke to reputable consultant gynaecologist, Mr Alfred Cutner, who, here in our latest article below, details how minimally invasive surgery is performed to treat patients with endometriosis, and tells us when surgery for this condition is required.

When is surgery required for endometriosis?

Endometriosis can cause painful periods, pain when opening the bowels, pain when passing urine, painful sexual intercourse, and fertility problems. These are indications to perform surgery where the symptoms are such that non-surgical treatment has not been and is not going to be effective.

With regards to absolute indications, severe endometriosis can lead to a large mass in the stomach, bowel obstruction, and obstruction of the ureter. Surgery will be highly advised here as patients will suffer if they don’t opt for surgical therapy when these kinds of obstruction occur.

How have surgical techniques for endometriosis developed in recent years?

It really centres on the increase of and improvement in technology – resulting in increased visualisation – that has allowed surgery to move from big open cuts to small holes where you operate looking at an enhanced television screen. This has allowed us to cut tissue away without damaging other structures.

What advantages does minimally invasive surgery for endometriosis have when compared to more traditional techniques?

In theory, you should think of minimally invasive surgery as open surgery performed through small holes. This is advantageous when it comes to patients’ recovery. However, the real advantage comes in the form of the enhanced vision. As a result of this enhanced vision, we can cut tissue away far more efficiently.

How is minimally invasive surgery for endometriosis performed?

It is performed through small holes (a one centimetre cut and three more small cuts). We then use specific instruments that are designed to cut and divide tissue.

What is recovery time like?

When we talk about getting back to normal, patients usually recover from minimally invasive endometriosis surgery after roughly between two to four weeks.

To schedule an appointment with Mr Alfred Cutner, simply head on over to his Top Doctors profile today.