Laparoscopic Removal of Pelvic Mass (Ovarian Cysts)
Removal of pelvic mass can almost always be accomplished laparoscopically using one or two 0.5cm skin incisions and a single 1.0cm incision. Patients can go home on the same day of surgery and recovery time is well under 1 week.
Depending on the nature of the mass and size of the mass, a DualPort or 3-4 port laparoscopy can be used to remove the mass. The cyst/mass is shelled out of the ovary in one piece and placed inside a specialized bag, which avoids spilling the contents of the mass into the pelvis. Once inside the bag, the mass can be decompressed to allow removal through the 1.0cm incision.
In younger patients, the ovary is preserved and only the cyst/mass is removed. In patients who are peri or post-menopausal, we recommend to remove the entire ovary due to a higher risk of malignancy.