When diagnosis and treatment of almost all gynaecological problems is possible with highly advanced minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures, majority of women in India are subjected to open surgeries. The procedures not only leave ugly post surgical scars but also cause discomfort throughout the process.
“While endoscopic techniques have transformed the practice of surgery, its rate of adoption rate in gynaecology has been very slow in India. While laparoscopic surgery for gall bladder removal has reached close to 100% in twenty years, laparoscopic hysterectomy in women, which was introduced almost the same time (20 years ago), is still used for less than 25% of all hysterectomies performed annually in India,” Nikita Trehan, Managing Director, Sunrise Hospital, New Delhi, a senior gynaecologist and Laparoscopy Surgeon.
A hysterectomy is an operation to remove a woman's uterus. Besides hysterectomy other health conditions where women can be successfully treated using laparoscopy methods include removal of fibroid, adenomyosis, Uterine and ovarian Cancer, polyps, Polycystic ovarian disease, endometriosis, infertility, urinary leakage, prolapse of the uterus and a host of others.
“Laparoscopic procedures have several advantages: a smaller incision, reduced blood loss and shorter hospital stay which considerably cuts down the cost too over open surgery,” said Trehan.
The scenario in terms of laparoscopic surgeries is worst in smaller cities in India. “In small towns, women are still subjected to open surgeries because many misconceptions exist about the so-called side effects of laparoscopic procedures while there is minimal awareness about the manifold benefits of such surgeries. Moreover, since the laparoscopic procedure costs more than open surgeries, cost-conscious patients from small towns prefer the latter. Besides, the overall lack of proper medical infrastructure, equipment and clinical expertise influences the hospitals also to opt for open surgeries,” Rupashree Dasgupta, Director and head of the department Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Gynaecological Oncology at Nayati Medicity, Mathura said.
“Ours is a fast growing healthcare chain in tier 2 and 3 cities. Without the burden of outstation travel and stay costs as well as our reasonable charges, treatment in Nayati facilities is almost 40% lower than in metro cities. Moreover, we regularly counsel patients about the benefits of laparoscopic surgeries, including same-day discharge and the faster recovery period,” she said.
The latest technologies in laparoscopic procedures not only handle the cosmetic aesthetics of women but also offer great comfort and curtail hospital stay. “From normal camera to the High Definition (HD) cameras used for performing laparoscopic surgery in gynaecology, the technology is changing every day. The HD Cameras brought revolution in the imaging system. The complicated surgeries became safe,” said B Ramesh, Gynecologist and laparoscopic surgeon and Managing Director Altius hospital, Bengaluru.
“Further modification of HD is 4K Cameras which gives 4 times better image than the HD cameras, it gives high resolution, brilliant picture of the organs so that the gynaecologist can identify even micro pathology and treat it. In cases of severe disease like endometriosis, pelvic cancers and advanced adhesions the 4 K cameras given such precise pictures even advanced surgeries can be performed without complications and patients’ safety is protected,” he said.
With further advances, now 4K technology is combined with 3-D technology so that it combines both the Advantages of 4K and 3-D, the surgeon can see the best possible picture of the organ like almost realistic organ.
