Do You Really Need Surgery?

by Moore, Michele C., M.D.; De Costa, Caroline M., M.D.

• ISBN13: 9780813533933
• ISBN10: 0813533937
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-03-01
• Publisher: Rutgers Univ Pr

Summary

At last, here is a user-friendly guide to gynecologic surgery. The authors' guiding principle is that each woman for whom any kind of surgery is recommended should be well informed about the indications, the risks, and the expected results. Using anecdotes drawn from a combined fifty years of experience, doctors Moore and de Costa provide clear and accurate information about women's anatomy, physiology, common gynecological ailments, diagnosis, alternative treatments, and, finally, full details about surgery itself. Among the surgeries discussed are removal of the uterus (hysterectomy), removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy), and removal of fibroids. The various ways of performing these procedures are examined, including minimally invasive surgery done through the laparoscope. The authors also help the patient through the post-operative phase, revealing what to expect, how to make the recovery easier, and how to take care of yourself after the surgery. The result is a

Author Biography

Michele Moore, M.D., is a family physician specializing in women's health Caroline M. De Costa, M.D., a gynecologist and obstetrician, is a mother of seven who has herself undergone a hysterectomy

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables	ix
Preface	xi
1. Your Anatomy-Where Things Are	1	(5)
2. Your Physiology-How Things Work	6	(5)
3. What Goes Wrong (1)-Some Common Gynecologic Diseases and Problems	11	(19)
4. What Goes Wrong (2)-Gynecologic Cancers and Precancer	30	(17)
5. Reaching a Diagnosis-What to Expect	47	(12)
6. Nonsurgical Treatment of Gynecologic Problems	59	(16)
7. Surgical Treatment-Traditional, or Open, Procedures	75	(8)
8. Traditional Hysterectomy-What to Expect	83	(11)
9. The Risks of Traditional Surgery	94	(5)
10. After the Surgery	99	(7)
11. Other Gynecologic Surgery and Treatments	106	(9)
12. Laparoscopic Surgery-How It's Done and Why	115	(20)
13. The Risks of Laparoscopy	135	(9)
14. Laparoscopic Surgery-How Will You Feel?	144	(4)
15. Choices and Medical Resources	148	(3)
16. Other Endoscopic Surgery	151	(6)
17. Tips to Help Make a Sensible Decision	157	(4)
Quick Guide to Terms Used in This Book	161	(4)
Additional Resources	165	(2)
Index	167