Salpingo Oophorectomy

Unilateral Salpingo Oophorectomy is the procedure to surgically remove the fallopian tube along with an ovary. If both sets of the fallopian tubes and both ovaries are removed, the process is known as Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy.

Causes:

Salpingo Oophorectomy is usually done for the following reasons:

• Gynecological Cancers
• Infections caused by Pelvic Inflammatory diseases
• Endometriosis – a condition where the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus (usually on and around the pelvic organs)
• Ectopic pregnancy

Procedure

General or regional anesthesia will be administered to the patient. Salpingo Oophorectomy can be done laproscopically or by a surgical cut. If done using a laproscope, a large abdominal incision can be avoided and also hasten recovery.

Laparoscopic Approach

The surgeon makes a small cut through the abdominal wall just below the navel. The laproscope is inserted into the incision and is guided through the patient’s body. A camera attached to the laproscope enables the surgeon to see the abdominal cavity on a video monitor. When the Ovaries and Fallopian tubes are detached they are removed through a small incision on top of the vagina. The patient will be discharged in a day or two.

Surgical Cut Approach

The surgeon makes a 10-15cm long incision into the abdomen extending either vertically up from the pubic bone toward the naval or horizontally across the pubic hairline. In this procedure, bleeding can be one of the complications that would have to be managed. The procedure is more painful and recovery period is far longer. The patient may have to be in hospital for 3-5days and recovery would take atleast 6 weeks.

Risks

• Some of the risks include:
• Infection
• Reactions to Anesthesia
• Hemorrhage

Recovery

An Abdominal incision Salpingo Oophorectomy would require atleast 6 weeks for full recovery. However, the laproscopic method, ensures that the recovery takes a shorter period of time. Following the surgery, the patient should avoid sharply flexing the thighs or the knees.

If both ovaries are removed, in a pre-menopausal woman, the sudden loss of estrogen will trigger an abrupt premature menopause which can have many adverse symptoms of hot flashes, vaginal dryness and painful intercourse. Estrogen also helps in fighting heart diseases. A sudden loss of this hormone can put a woman to risk of contracting Coronary Heart Disease and Osteoporosis. A Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) may be prescribed to relieve the symptoms of Surgical Menopause and help prevent heart and bone disease.