Today, I am going to tell you about something that makes me so upset, so disappointed, and even so disgusted with it. This type of medical practice I see sometimes, I stand speechless in front of it.
Unfortunately, I get many young patients, yet to be married, with the exact same story. conventional surgical opening of the abdominal cavity, or what we call Laparotomy, just to get some fibroids out of the womb! This is a disaster! Some silly tumors of 4 or 5 cm, and the treating doctor suggested open surgery for it! This open surgery costs any young lady a lot of problems. 85% of these cases would end up with unnecessary adhesions and fibrosis, along with a nasty scar in her abdominal wall! And all of this trouble just to get a simple tumor out of the womb!
This surgical practice would have been acceptable 7 years ago. Back then, Laparoscopy wasn’t an available option all the time. But nowadays, what’s her doctor excuse? Laparoscopy has become the best, most effective and reliable way to deal with fibroids of any size, anywhere in the world. Talk about fibroids in the size of a watermelon! Fibroids weighting over 2 Kgs, all of these tumors are taken out by laparoscopy, and there is absolutely no need for open surgery. Laparoscopy can take up to 4 hours, but it’s totally worth it! Open surgery in a young lady with no clear indication can really ruin her life later. This type of surgical intervention can have devastating effects on her fertility, and subsequently, her mental, physical health.
Many doctors put fear of laparoscopic interventions in their patient heads. This is simply because they can’t do it right! Another disappointing form of practice is performing any type of assisted reproductive technology for a patient with multiple fibroids! How on earth do you expect an embryo to be implanted and grow to a fully grown baby inside a womb with many tumors growing from its walls!
This is my message to my fellow doctors; please be honest with the treatment options you offer your patients. Your patient shouldn’t pay the price for your lack of experience in some medical or surgical fields. If your patient chooses open surgery so be it. But this decision comes after explaining all the possible side effects of it, and more importantly, after being aware of her other options, including laparoscopy.
Not all fibroids have to be removed.
Fibroids rarely require open surgery.
Not all fibroids can be taken out by laparoscopy.
Not every woman with fibroids is suitable for ICSI.
Doing ICSI once or twice a year doesn’t make an expert.
The world has evolved; modern technology saved a lot of patients a lot of troubles. Choose an experienced doctor, with updated medical background.
“Images below showing the difference between fibroids needed removal with open surgery vs. others dealt with by laparoscopy”
