How is the uterus removed in a laparoscopic hysterectomy?

A laparoscopic hysterectomy, often called "keyhole surgery," is another minimally invasive marvel. During this procedure, we make several very small incisions (usually 3 to 4) in the abdomen, each about the size of your fingertip. We then insert a laparoscope—a thin tube with a high-definition camera on the end—through one incision to see inside your body on a monitor.

Specialized, long surgical instruments are passed through the other small incisions. Your surgeon uses these instruments to carefully detach the uterus from its surrounding ligaments and blood vessels. Once detached, the uterus is typically removed in small sections through one of the keyhole incisions or, more commonly, through the natural opening of the vagina. This technique avoids the need for a large abdominal incision.