Laparoscopic-Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy
A laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy enables your surgeon to better see the uterus and surrounding tissues during the surgical removal of the uterus through the vagina. An LAVH involves several very small incisions in the abdomen, in addition to a small incision just below the naval.
A thin, lighted, telescope-like instrument (which acts like a video camera) is inserted through the incision just below the naval. The surgeon is then able to view inside the uterus using a monitor.
Small instruments are inserted through the other two small incisions in the abdomen. These instruments are used to cut and tie off the blood vessels, fallopian tubes and ligaments. The surgeon will then remove the uterus through the vagina.
Typically, with an LAVH surgery, the hospital stay is a day or two, and recovery is approximately two weeks.