Lotus Endometriosis Institute has released a guide covering the differences between ablation and excision, two surgical procedures that may be recommended in the treatment and management of severe endometriosis, an incurable and often painful condition that affects many reproductive-aged women and female-identifying individuals. The resource details how endometriosis type can affect the efficacy of surgery, situations where one method may be preferred over the other, and whether surgery is even necessary for certain cases.
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Lotus Endometriosis Institute’s guide defines endometriosis as a disease of abnormal tissue growth. Because of the nature of the condition, it may be managed by hormonal treatments, anti-inflammatory medications, and lifestyle adjustments. Surgery is typically only considered in more complex cases where infertility occurs, other organs are involved, and symptoms persist despite medical therapy, and doctors may recommend either excision or ablation to manage extensive lesion growth.
The difference between procedures lies in how the disease is managed: During excision, endometriosis lesions are surgically cut out of the patient’s body, removing the disease completely. Conversely, ablation involves destroying the surface of the lesion, typically using bipolar coagulation, laser, or other thermal technologies to “burn” the disease off. Surgeons may use both methods during the procedure, depending on the size of lesions and the areas where they occur, and research has shown that both approaches can improve pain, especially dysmenorrhea (period pain), dyspareunia (pain during sex), and chronic pelvic pain.
However, Lotus Endometriosis Institute’s guide notes that burn injuries are prone to more inflammation and are at risk for scarring and fibrosis, so ablation may result in longer recovery times than excision. Additionally, robotic assistance and advanced 3D optics used in excision surgeries can improve precision and reduce trauma, lowering the risk of postoperative complications.
In spite of the advantages of excision, Lotus Endometriosis Institute says that current research does not indicate one method is superior over the other. Rather than focus on the procedure, patients are encouraged to ask their provider about their diagnosis, how the provider will address certain parts of the disease, how they will preserve organ function, and aftercare plans - these factors can significantly impact outcomes regardless of whether excision or ablation is chosen.
More information is available at https://lotusendo.com/