Laparoscopy and Hysteroscopy

After having been almost abandoned, supracervical hysterectomy has been recently re-advocated, especially after the development of laparoscopy, because it is stated to have less morbidity and minor intra-operative complications. However, long term outcomes report high incidences of late complications

The first laparoscopic lymphadenectomy was reported in the late 1980’s and safety of this procedure has been largely proved. Familiarity with instrumentation and management of complication is a prerequisite to perform this procedure.

From its beginnings back in 1991, in our Department, the laparoscopic approach to pelvic prolapse has changed considerably over the decade. Initially limited to strict reproduction of the techniques carried out by laparotomy, the introduction of a number of complementary procedures has provided an answer to all the situations encountered in the field of female genital prolapse repair.

A preliminary examination under anaesthesia should be performed, the results of pre-operative investigations should be checked to confirm the indications and limitations of the proposed procedure. The retroperitoneal lomboaortic lymphadenectomy achieved via a left internal iliac approach (Dargent et al, 2ooo). The left side is chosen for this approach because most of the lymphnodes are found in the left paraortic region (Michel et al,1998) and because it is also possible to dissect on the right side via this approach (Dargent et al, 2000).If the preoperative work-up reveals right side adenopathy, a similar approach on the right is entirely possible.