Panama Medical Vacations
Finding What Hurts with a Panama Hysteroscopy
A hysteroscopy is an endoscopic examination by means of which your surgeon has direct vision of the uterine cavity. With a hysteroscopy it is possible to examine the normality of the uterine cavity and the condition of the endometrium; this allows your surgeon to use your Panama hysteroscopy to determine if you need additional procedures or not. Your surgeon might use your Panama hysteroscopy in order to diagnose:
- Abnormal uterine bleeding
- Sterility and infertility
- Cytological doubts reports
- View the endometrium for adhesions during menopause
- Endometrial hyperplasia
- Intrauterine stadiation of the endometrial carcinoma
Prior to Surgery
Prior to your Panama hysteroscopy, you need to inform your doctor if you:
- Are or might be pregnant.
- Are taking any medicines.
- Are allergic to any medicines.
- Have had bleeding problems or take blood-thinners such as aspirin.
- Have been treated for a vaginal, cervical, or pelvic infection in the past 6 weeks.
- Have any heart or lung problems.
A hysteroscopy needs to be done when you are not having your menstrual period. If there is a chance that you could become pregnant, the hysteroscopy should be done before you are ovulating so your doctor is sure you are not pregnant.
The Procedure
Diagnostic hysteroscopy and simple operative hysteroscopy can usually be done on an out-patient basis. Typically your surgeon will perform your Panama hysteroscopy under local anaesthetic although with some women it is necessary to use general anaesthetic. This occurs with women who have never given birth vaginally or among women with past surgical operations on the uterine cervix. In these cases it is difficult to pass through the cervical channel with hysteroscope without causing pain, thus requiring the use of anaesthetic.
After a visual inspection of the cervix, the uterine cavity is expanded using CO2. Using the attached fiber optic light source and camera, the surgeon is then able to view the entire uterus for fibroids and other irregularities. In addition the surgeon is able to exam both the fallopian tubes and the endometrium for irregularities.
After your surgery
Because your Panama hysteroscopy is invasive, you will be taken to recovery whether you had a general anesthetic or not. After the recovery team is comfortable with your condition, they will release you to leave the hospital. Your surgeon may recommend that you avoid lifting heavy objects for a couple of weeks and it is likely that you will need to suspend sexual activity during that time. You should be feeling well enough that you can enjoy many of the sights and attractions of Panama in a day or two after your Panama hysteroscopy.
Risks
If a fluid is used during the test to help your doctor see the lining clearly, you may absorb some fluid and feel bloated. It may also change the level of sodium in your blood. If gas is used, you have a small risk for an air bubble (air embolism) in a blood vessel, though this is very rare.
A hysteroscopy can cause injury to the uterus or cervix, an infection, or bleeding. In rare cases, the uterus, bladder, or bowel can be punctured during the test, requiring surgical repair. If general anesthesia is used, there is a small risk of problems from the anesthesia.