Doctor’s
Recommendation: Laparoscopic Surgery for Fallopian Tubes
Fallopian
tubes are two thin tubes that lie on both sides of the uterus. These tubes
carry mature eggs from the ovary to the uterus. When a woman has a blocked
fallopian tube, it prevents the egg from travelling to the uterus thus
resulting in infertility. This blockage can occur in one or both the tubes
and this accounts for 40% cause of infertility in woman.
This obstruction results due to infections like pelvic inflammatory disease.
In the earlier times, fallopian tubal surgery helped to restore the normal
functioning of the fallopian tubes. However, with the advancement of medical
technology different types of tuboplasty has emerged like laparoscopy
and laparotomy.
The symptoms of these blocked fallopian tubes are very rare. Some woman
may experience pain in the lower abdomen while some may have abnormal
vaginal discharge. However, not all woman with blocked fallopian tubes
experience such signs and symptoms.
The blocks are diagnosed with the help of specialized x-rays and dye tests.
The other tests are ultrasound, laparoscopy to examine the blockage and
hysteroscopy.
When the drugs fail, the doctor resolves to laparoscopic surgery to remove
the blockage or the scar tissue that causes the problem. The success of
this laparoscopic surgery depends on the age of the patient, extent of
blockage and the cause and spot of obstruction.
The tubular procedures for fallopian tubes blockage are:
Tubal reanastomosis – This is done to repair a portion of
the fallopian tube damaged by a disease. The diseased portion is severed
and the healthy portions are tied together. This procedure is done with
small incisions either with laparotomy or by laparoscopy depending on
the specialized surgeon.
Salpingectomy – In this procedure a part of the fallopian tube
is removed to enhance in vitro fertilization.
Fimbrioplasty – This procedure reconstructs the fringed ends
of the fallopian tube.
The laparoscopic surgery minimizes the stay in the hospital and helps
the woman to get back to her normal routine very quickly. About 20 to
30 percent of women get pregnant after this fallopian tube surgery. The
success rate depends not only on the problem but also on the skill and
expertise of the surgeon.
The risks and complications that go with this fallopian tube surgery are
that the woman becomes more prone to pelvic infection. The formation of
the scar tissue on the reproductive organs that binds to the wall of the
abdomen or to other organs is the other complication of the surgery. There
is an increased chance of the woman having ectopic or tube pregnancy after
the surgery.
