Hysteroscopy - the study of the uterine cavity by means of a special apparatus - a hysteroscope. The doctor through the vagina introduces into the uterine cavity a gysteroscope, the thickness of which is up to 10 mm. On fiber optics, the image is transferred to a video camera and displayed on the monitor, magnified 20 times.
In the diagnostic procedure, anesthesia is not performed, with interventions on the uterus under the control of the device using a local, rarely - general anesthesia.
Hysteroscopy is used not only for examination of the uterine cavity. The doctor has the opportunity:
- observe the condition of the uterine mucosa;
- to make a biopsy of the endometrium (if there is a suspicion on oncoprocess);
- remove endometrial polyps;
- single submucosal fibromatous nodes;
- when incomplete abortion - remove the remnants of the shells.
Yes, and medical abortion can also be performed with the help of hysteroscopy, given that there is no deep trauma of the uterus during visual observation, the fetal egg is completely removed, which means that the risk of complications after abortion is significantly reduced.
Complications after hysteroscopy of the uterus
Hysteroscopy is a procedure that can sometimes give serious complications:
- Perforation of the uterus wall is a very rare but severe complication, which is possible with a gross violation of the procedure. It is also possible if there are processes in the uterus that are not diagnosed before the intervention or as a complication of surgical intervention under the control of hysteroscopy. Symptoms of perforation - a sharp pain during the procedure, accompanied by pain shock, fainting, lowering blood pressure, general weakness. The consequences of perforation after hysteroscopy are serious (for example, bleeding into the abdominal cavity), and for their prevention, surgical intervention on the uterus after the procedure is necessary.
- Uterine bleeding is one of the most common complications, it develops as a consequence of polyp removal, or when hysteroscopy was performed to remove the fibromatous node, in violation of the procedure technique. Symptoms of bleeding are copious bleeding from the vagina for more than 2 days (small spotting will be observed and normal after the procedure). With the development of bleeding appoint blood-stopping drugs, reducing the uterus drugs, and if necessary - an intervention on the uterus.
- Endometritis - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the uterine cavity. It is an infectious complication that develops due to drift during the procedure of pathogenic microorganisms into the uterine cavity. Symptoms of inflammation develop not immediately, but several days after the intervention: the body temperature rises, pains of different intensity appear in the lower abdomen, the woman has blood-purulent or purulent discharge from the vagina. Treatment of the complication consists of massive atibiotikoterapii and detoxification therapy under the supervision of a doctor.
Prevention of complications after hysteroscopy
To minimize complications after the intervention, hysteroscopy is not performed in the presence of diseases such as bacterial inflammatory processes of the genital organs (vaginitis, cervicitis, endometritis).
In order to prevent bacterial complications, a vaginal smear should be examined before the procedure, and venereal diseases are excluded.
You can not do the procedure for severe uterine bleeding, especially of an unclear etiology, for cervical cancer , since this can cause adverse effects: after hysteroscopy, bleeding may increase significantly. Hysteroscopy is contraindicated in case of a possible desired pregnancy, as it can provoke miscarriage.