Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 02/17/2009
The patient is placed in a supine position on the operating table with her legs in stirrups and the incision site is prepared. An antiseptic solution, such as chlorhexidine, is applied to the skin using highly disinfected forceps and gauze swabs. The...
patient is covered with surgical drapes with the window positioned directly over the incision site. Throughout the procedure, the vital signs of the patient are monitored (blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate) as well as her level of consciousness and blood loss. Pain management depends on the surgery that requires the colpotomy, and may involve local, regional, or general anesthesia. The incision is only made as large as necessary for the requirements of the overall surgery.
For example, when a decision has been made to remove a myoma by colpotomy, the procedure may proceed as follows:
- A small myoma screw is inserted into the myoma and a grasper with locking mechanism is placed on the lower edge of the wound.
- The myoma is directed toward the cul-de-sac using the myoma screw.
- A colpotomy is performed.
- The myoma is grasped and removed vaginally. During this part of the procedure, the surgeon examines whether the myoma extends into the uterine cavity.
- If it does, the uterus is guided to the colpotomy site. T-clamps are placed on the edges of the wounds and the fundus of the uterus is delivered, via the colpotomy incision, into the vagina.
- The uterus is sutured in three layers (endometrial, myometrial and serosal).
- The repaired uterus is returned to the abdominal cavity.
- The colpotomy incision is sutured.
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Definition
A colpotomy, also known as a vaginotomy, is a procedure by which an incision is made in the vagina.
Purpose
A colpotomy is performed either to visualize pelvic structures or to perform surgery on the fallopian tubes or ovaries.
Role of colpotomy in gynecologic surgery
Several gynecologic surgery protocols require a colpotomy as part of the overall surgical procedure. It is performed whenever the surgeon needs to access the vagina. Several of these surgeries include:
Tubal sterilization. Sterilization is a procedure that can be performed using either abdominal or vaginal procedures. When a vaginal procedure is selected by the surgeon, he performs a colpotomy and may also insert a culdoscope to locate the tubes (culdoscopy), and close them off.
Removal of myomas. Myomas are fibroid tumors of the muscle tissue of the uterus and they are sometimes removed vaginally by colpotomy.
Removal of pelvic cysts and masses. In one treatment variant, patients may undergo a laparoscopy followed by a colpotomy for the vaginal extraction of the pelvic cyst or mass.
Hysterectomy. One technique used to surgically remove the uterus combines three steps, an initial laparoscopic stage, followed by a vaginal stage, and a final laparoscopic stage. The colpotomy is performed during the second step to deliver the uterus into the vagina.
Dysmenorrhea. Separation of the uterosacral ligaments via colpotomy is an approach that has been used for the relief of dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation).
Complications in pregnancy and childbirth. Colpotomy may be used in the management of difficult pregnancies and childbirths.
From http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Ce-Fi/Colpotomy.html
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