Abstract
Laparoscopy has become an effective and precise diagnostic and treatment procedure in gynecology. It is particularly important to divide and separate tissues precisely and accurately without bleeding in laparoscopic surgery, The lasers such as KTP cut and coagulate simultaneously and can divide many tissues in the pelvis without bleeding. We have applied laparoscopic surgery with KTP laser for various gynecologic operations especially for the treatment of endometriosis: Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and cystectomy of chocolate cyst with laparoscopic adhesiolysis. In cases of LAVH for endometriosis, blood loss was significantly smaller compared with that for abdominal hysterectomy and the patients were discharged earlier after the surgery. Cystectomy for endometrial cyst takes significantly longer time but little blood loss compared with that of laparotomy. The results were at least equal or better compared with laparotomy for patients with stage-matched endometriosis. The procedure can not only minimize the amount of surgery for the patient. but also lead to a more rapid postoperative recovery while attaining the same objective as laparotomy. Thus, operative laparoscopy using KTP laser may be the treatment of choice for woman with endometriosis who need surgery.
