Laparoscopically Assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) is a special form of hysterectomy. LAVH patients report less pain, a shorter hospital stay and a quicker recovery than after an abdominal hysterectomy.
During a LAVH your doctor will make a small cut in the abdomen through which the scope will be inserted. It brings light into the abdomen so that your doctor can see inside. The doctor can view the pelvic organs on a special TV-like screen.
During laparoscopy, other small cuts are made in the abdomen. These allow your doctor to insert other devices to help move organs into view, perform parts of the surgery, and remove the uterus through the vagina. The scope can also be used to diagnose what conditions are present.
Reasons for LAVH
Hysterectomy may be used as a treatment option for problems with the uterus, including:
- Adhesions – bands of scar tissue that can cause the pelvic organs to stick together. They may occur inn the abdomen because of past surgeries or pelvic infection By using a laparoscope, your doctor can cut adhesions to fee the uterus. This allows the uterus to be removed through the vagina.
- Endometriosis – a condition where patches of tissue that normally line the uterus grow outside the uterus and become attached to other pelvic organs. This may lead to cysts and severe adhesions. Your doctor may want to use a laparoscope to treat the endometriosis and to do your hysterectomy.
- Fibroids – are benign (not cancer) growths on the uterus. If they are large, they can make it hard for your doctor to remove the uterus through the vagina. Using the laparoscope may help.
- Salpingo-oophorectomy – is a procedure that removes the ovaries and fallopian tubes along with the uterus. Removing the ovaries and tubes may be difficult through the the vagina, but a laparoscope may be able to help.
As with any surgical procedure there are potential risks, it is important to discuss all of your concerns with your OB/GYN.
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