Surgical Removal Of Ovary / Oophorectomy

B. Laparoscopically-Assisted Vaginal Oophorectomy

A laparoscope is a thin telescope tube (from 5 to 10 mm diameter) with a magnifying glass-like eye piece at one end to which a video camera is attached. Through the camera the view inside the abdomen can be seen on a television monitor.

1. After administering anesthesia the abdomen and vagina are prepared with an antibacterial solution.

2. In order for the surgeon to observe the inside of the body clearly, the peritoneal cavity is inflated with gas (usually carbon dioxide).

3. The surgery begins with small abdominal incisions below to the belly button in the skin crease, which allows the insertion of the laparoscope. Another two or three small incisions may be necessary to insert the laparoscopic instruments to dissect and remove the ovaries.

4. Using the laparoscopic surgical tools, the tissues and vessels surrounding the ovaries are cut and tied.

5. When the ovaries are detached, they are removed though a small incision at the top of the vagina. The ovaries can also be reduced in size by cutting into smaller sections before being removed through the small incision.

6. The top of the vaginal cuff is sutured. The abdominal cuts are all closed with stitches, which are likely to leave small scars.

The removed organ(s) are sent to a lab to be analyzed.

The fallopian tubes also may be removed during this surgical procedure.