Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 02/17/2009
BOOKS
Masterson, B. J. Manual of Gynecologic Surgery (Comprehensive Manuals of Surgical Specialties). New York: Springer Verlag, 1986.
Reiffenstahl, G., W. Platzer, and P.-G. Knapstein. Vaginal...
Operations. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 1996.
Stewart, E. G., and P. Spencer. The V Book: A Doctor's Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishers, 2002.
PERIODICALS
Diakomanolis, E., A. Rodolakis, Z. Boulgaris, G. Blachos, and S.Michalas. "Treatment of Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia With Laser Ablation and Upper Vaginectomy."Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation 54 (2002): 17-20, 419-427.
Ghezzi, F., L. Raio, M. D. Mueller, T. Gyr, M. Buttarelli, andM. Franchi. "Vaginal Extraction of Pelvic Masses Following Operative Laparoscopy."Surgical Endoscopy 16 (December 2002): 1691-1696.
Goodlin, R. C. "In Defense of the Anterior Vaginotomy."Journal of Reproductive Medicine 47 (August 2002): 693-694.
Gortzak-Uzan, L., A. Walfisch, Y. Gortzak, M. Katz, M. Mazor, and M. Hallak. "Accidental Vaginal Incision During Cesarean Section. A Report of Four Cases."Journal of Reproductive Medicine 46 (November 2001): 1017-1020.
Ou, C. S., A. Harper, Y. H. Liu, and R. Rowbotham. "Laparoscopic Myomectomy Technique. Use of Colpotomy and the Harmonic Scalpel."Journal of Reproductive Medicine 47 (October 2002): 849-853.
ORGANIZATIONS
American Association of Gynecological Laparoscopists. 13021East Florence Avenue, Sante Fe Springs, CA 90670-4505. (800) 554-2245.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 40912th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024-2188. E-mail: resources@acog.org.
American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology. 20West Washington Street, Suite 1, Hagerstown, MD 21740. (301) 733-3640 or (800) 787-7227.
National Association for Women's Health. 300 W. AdamsStreet, Suite 328, Chicago, IL 60606-5101. (312) 786-1468.
OTHER
"Culdocentesis and Colpotomy."Managing Complications ofPregnancy and Childbirth: A Guide for Midwives and Doctors. World Health Organization. [cited May 14, 2003].
National Women's Health Information Center. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. [cited May 14, 2003].
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Other Information
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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