Diagnostic Laparoscopy

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Diagnostic Laparoscopy

Diagnostic laparoscopy is a procedure that allows a health care provider to look directly inside of a patient’s abdomen or pelvis in order to identify or rule out certain medical problems. The process involves the use of a tiny camera (laparoscope), which is contained inside of a tube and passed through a small cut in the abdomen. Carbon dioxide gas is pumped into the abdomen to expand the area, which gives the surgeon more room to work and allows for a better view inside the body. Additional small cuts may be made for inserting other instruments, if necessary, to provide a better view of certain organs. The procedure usually is done in the hospital or an outpatient surgical center while the patient is asleep under general anesthesia. Very rarely, the procedure may be done by numbing only the area affected by the surgery, allowing the patient to stay awake. In gynecologic laparoscopy, dye may be injected into the cervix area so the surgeon can better see the fallopian tubes.

UAB Obstetrics and Gynecology offers comprehensive women’s health care in a private, personal environment, with physicians and nurses who are dedicated to delivering excellent care. Because our physicians are nationally recognized specialists in their fields, you can rest assured that you are receiving the most advanced care available. UAB Obstetrics and Gynecology is consistently ranked among the best programs of its kind in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

As part of the UAB Division of Women’s Reproductive Healthcare, UAB Obstetrics and Gynecology’s services range from complete obstetric care to the medical and surgical treatment of complicated gynecological concerns. We work closely with the UAB Medicine Interventional Radiology team to diagnose and treat your condition, using the latest and most accurate technology and imaging methods, including fluoroscopy, ultrasound, and CT scans. Because UAB Medicine is an academic health center, patients may be offered participation in clinical research trials, which can give you access to new techniques and treatments that are not available elsewhere in the area. Our physicians are here for you at all times, from your first routine gynecological exam, to delivering your baby, to guiding you through menopause. When you establish a relationship with our doctors, you can rely upon that relationship throughout your lifetime.