Laparoscopic Gynaecologist Nick Morris

You may be having, or have had, a laparoscopy: a keyhole operation, and minimal access surgery.
As a diagnostic procedure, a laparoscopy Gynaecologist will assess your pelvis by looking inside – (diagnostic laparoscopy). This is normally day surgery, and recovery is swift.
Or you may be having a therapeutic procedure – operative laparoscopy. and includes procedures such as: tubal sterilisation, or a of treatment of endometriosis removal of an ovarian cyst, treatment of an ectopic pregnancy.
More complex surgery can be performed by a laparoscopic gynaecologist and include:
removal of one or both ovaries or division of scar tissue (intermediate procedures). This can be day case, but some patients benefit from an overnight stay.
Treatment of severe endometriosis or hysterectomy (major procedures) may require more than 24 hours in hospital.

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Rapid Access Gynaecology

The effects of general anaesthesia

Most modern anaesthetics are short lasting, and my anaesthetists will use TIVA.
You therefore should not have, or experience any after-effects from anaesthesia for more than a day after your operation.
During the first 24 hours you may feel more sleepy than usual, and as a result your judgement could be impaired.
If you drink any alcohol after surgery, it will affect you more than normal.
You should have an adult with you during this time, and you should not drive or make any important decisions.

You will have between 1 and 4 small scars on different parts of your abdomen – one scar will usually just below your tummy button. Each scar will be between 0.5cm and 1cm long.
I advise women who are planning to sunbathe, to keep the abdomen covered for 3 months, to prevent the scars becoming pigmented.
I will remove the sutures at your follow up appointment.

You can experience some pain and discomfort in your lower abdomen for the first few days after surgery.
You may also have some pain in your shoulders. This is a common side effect of the operation, and is caused by the cardon dioxide gas we use in the procedure.
You will usually be sent home with painkillers for the pain you are experiencing .
Some women experience constipation, I offer all my patients an enema pre surgery to help stop this.