Polyp Removal in Israel: The Most Advanced Methods

Polyp Removal in Israel: Indications

A benign tumor that arises from overgrown mucosal tissue is called a polyp. It most commonly occurs in the nasal cavity, uterus, intestines, and stomach. Polyps in the stomach and intestines may arise against the background of gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, in the uterus – due to hormonal imbalance or inflammation, in the nose – as a result of viral infections or allergies. There are cases when a polyp that appeared after an illness disappears on its own after some time. However, in any case, the detection of a polyp requires medical supervision, as in some situations, polyps can pose a danger. Doctors insist on the removal of polyps in the following cases:

• If adenomatous polyps are found, which are prone to malignancy (transformation into cancer)
• If the polyps are large, which may lead to obstruction or bleeding
• If the patient's quality of life has deteriorated due to the polyps

At the Ichilov (Sourasky) clinic, polyp removal surgeries are performed by specialized professionals. A gynecological surgeon handles the removal of polyps in the uterus, an ENT surgeon for those in the nose, and an abdominal surgeon for those in the stomach and intestines. All doctors at the clinic have extensive experience and possess the necessary skills and knowledge to perform minimally invasive and traditional surgeries.

Polyp Removal Surgery in Israel: How It Is Conducted

The choice of technique depends on where the tumor is located.

Polyps in the Intestines

Polyp removal in the intestine in Israel is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed during a colonoscopy if the polyps are small. During the procedure, a colonoscope – a device with a flexible tube that illuminates the intestine and transmits images to a screen – is inserted into the anal opening. The doctor, upon discovering a polyp, introduces miniature surgical instruments into the intestine and removes the tumor. In some cases, instead of conventional surgical removal, the tumor is destroyed using a laser beam or by freezing it with liquid nitrogen, bloodlessly. In some cases, electrical excision may be used: the polyp is grasped with a special loop through which an electric current is passed. This method allows for the removal of the tumor with minimal bleeding.

The entire operation lasts no more than an hour, and the patient is placed under sedation to avoid any unpleasant sensations or pain.

If a large polyp is found that cannot be removed during a colonoscopy, a laparoscopic surgery is performed. Several tiny incisions, a few centimeters in size, are made on the body in the area where the polyp is located. Through these incisions, laparoscopic equipment is introduced for lighting and visualizing the affected area, along with surgical instruments.

Polyps in the Stomach

In most cases, doctors resort to endoscopic surgery: a small incision is made on the body, through which an endoscope with fiber optics and a video camera, as well as the necessary instruments, are introduced. The surgeon performs the necessary manipulations, verifying their accuracy through a screen displaying images from the camera. Several methods may be used endoscopically to eliminate the tumor:

Electrical coagulation – using current, the tumor tissue is cauterized, leading to necrosis.

Laser vaporization – removal of the polyp with a laser beam that vaporizes the tumor tissue layer by layer.

Polypectomy – mechanical removal of the polyp.

The surgeon chooses the method that will be most appropriate for the clinical case.

In exceptional cases, when there is suspicion that the polyp has transformed into a malignant tumor, an open surgery is performed. This is also done when there are many polyps or they are large in size.

Polyps in the Uterus

Polyp removal in the uterus in Israel most often occurs during hysteroscopy – a minimally invasive and low-trauma procedure. The patient is placed under general or regional anesthesia. A visualization device (hysteroscope) is inserted into the uterus through the cervix. Thanks to the extremely clear and high-quality image transmitted from the hysteroscope's camera to the screen, the surgeon accurately determines the location of the polyp. The removal then takes place. The following methods are used for this:

Electrical excision: using an electric loop that grasps the polyp at its base. This method is characterized by being bloodless.

Curettage: mechanical removal, most often used to remove many small tumors.

Laser vaporization: the most preferred, advanced method, which poses no risk of scarring for the patient, thus eliminating the risk of reproductive function impairment. A flexible catheter with a tip that serves as a conductor for the laser radiation is inserted into the uterine cavity and the laser beam is directed precisely at the area of pathology. The laser beam heats the tumor tissue, leading to necrosis.

The hysteroscopic operation takes no more than twenty minutes and is performed on an outpatient basis. On the same day, the woman returns home.

Laparoscopic surgery is a more serious surgical intervention involving small incisions on the body. It is usually advisable when there is a high likelihood of uterine cancer. It is performed under general anesthesia. Despite being a more serious operation, laparoscopy is still less traumatic than traditional extensive surgery. It leaves no large scars and the recovery period takes several days.

Polyps in the Nose

The surgery is performed under local anesthesia, using an endoscopic method. A laser may be used as the least traumatic method for tumor removal, or a debrider may be used – a device that sucks in the polyp and cuts it off.

Cost of Polyp Removal in Israel