In the first part of this article on tubal reversal surgery, we discussed how the world renown tubal reversal doctor, Dr. Gary Berger of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, performs this procedure. We are doing this in order to give you an inside peek, so to speak, into what happens during the operation. In the first part, we discussed the tenants of microsurgery that Dr. Berger follows to minimize trauma and bleeding in order to ensure a rapid recovery. We also discussed what happens along the way to getting to the abdominal cavity where the uterus and fallopian tubes lie. Please review that first part.
Before beginning any work on your fallopian tubes, Dr. Berger will wash them down with more anesthesia from a syringe. Another step to minimize trauma. Now the important work begins. Using some special scissors called iris scissors as they are used in delicate eye surgeries, he will cut away the bad portions of your tube that is nearest the ovary. Now, using a special Winston probe, named after the doctor you first did the tubal reversal surgery, Dr. Berger will thread a stent through that section of fallopian tube. This is done with special suture material and to ensure that your tube is actually open with no internal blockage.
Moving to the other piece of your fallopian tube, he will remove the other damaged part opening the tube once again. He threads the stent into this piece and on into the uterus to again be sure of no more blockage. Putting the two freshly cut ends of tube together, he adds a few stitches from them into the tissue underneath. This is done in order to provide support and lessen the strain on the tubes as they heal. They won't have to rely on only the stitches in your tubes to hole them together.
You may be wondering about all the suturing material at this point. You should know that this suture material is the same as is used in heart surgeries. It doesn't cause an inflammatory reaction nor the formation of scarring. You don't want scarring on your tubes.
Furthermore, the lower risk of scarring means you lower your chances for an ectopic pregnancy. Why? If your tubes have scars rather than the cilia that moves the fertilized egg along, what is going to move the egg at that point? SO you can see how important it is to keep that scarring down as much as possible. That is also why Dr. Berger does not put sutures through the inner layer of the fallopian tubes. It's to keep the scarring in there to a minimum. He only sutures the two outer layers, though it is the muscular middle layer that is the important one in holding things together.
After everything is stitched up, the stent is removed from the tube at the fimbrial end. He will do the same procedure on your other tube. Once that is done, he will start the closing process stitching the various layers where it is necessary.
Maybe you remember from the first part of this article talking about how he cut between two muscles instead of slicing through them. He actually sutures these two muscles together to minimize your risk of developing a hernia. And to keep the tension low on the sutures at the skin layer, he will suture the fine fascia layer just below the skin. In another effort to lower your pain after surgery, he will give you a hypogastric nerve block as well.
Something the doctor attaches around your incision is a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator. This stimulator helps release endorphins at the incision to keep the pain down there, too. That is something you, as the patient, get control of after you wake up. Just another example of all Dr. Berger does to help you recover faster and with less pain after your tubal reversal surgery. - 15438
Before beginning any work on your fallopian tubes, Dr. Berger will wash them down with more anesthesia from a syringe. Another step to minimize trauma. Now the important work begins. Using some special scissors called iris scissors as they are used in delicate eye surgeries, he will cut away the bad portions of your tube that is nearest the ovary. Now, using a special Winston probe, named after the doctor you first did the tubal reversal surgery, Dr. Berger will thread a stent through that section of fallopian tube. This is done with special suture material and to ensure that your tube is actually open with no internal blockage.
Moving to the other piece of your fallopian tube, he will remove the other damaged part opening the tube once again. He threads the stent into this piece and on into the uterus to again be sure of no more blockage. Putting the two freshly cut ends of tube together, he adds a few stitches from them into the tissue underneath. This is done in order to provide support and lessen the strain on the tubes as they heal. They won't have to rely on only the stitches in your tubes to hole them together.
You may be wondering about all the suturing material at this point. You should know that this suture material is the same as is used in heart surgeries. It doesn't cause an inflammatory reaction nor the formation of scarring. You don't want scarring on your tubes.
Furthermore, the lower risk of scarring means you lower your chances for an ectopic pregnancy. Why? If your tubes have scars rather than the cilia that moves the fertilized egg along, what is going to move the egg at that point? SO you can see how important it is to keep that scarring down as much as possible. That is also why Dr. Berger does not put sutures through the inner layer of the fallopian tubes. It's to keep the scarring in there to a minimum. He only sutures the two outer layers, though it is the muscular middle layer that is the important one in holding things together.
After everything is stitched up, the stent is removed from the tube at the fimbrial end. He will do the same procedure on your other tube. Once that is done, he will start the closing process stitching the various layers where it is necessary.
Maybe you remember from the first part of this article talking about how he cut between two muscles instead of slicing through them. He actually sutures these two muscles together to minimize your risk of developing a hernia. And to keep the tension low on the sutures at the skin layer, he will suture the fine fascia layer just below the skin. In another effort to lower your pain after surgery, he will give you a hypogastric nerve block as well.
Something the doctor attaches around your incision is a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator. This stimulator helps release endorphins at the incision to keep the pain down there, too. That is something you, as the patient, get control of after you wake up. Just another example of all Dr. Berger does to help you recover faster and with less pain after your tubal reversal surgery. - 15438
About the Author:
Get a FREE DVD of a tubal revesal surgery at Dr. Berger's website at http://www.tubal-reversal.net/ You will find much information there for all your questions as well. Not only that, you can meet other women who have had tubal reversals done through message board.
