Services

Urodynamic Studies

This service was started in June 2006.  Since then it has been conducted three weekly in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.  Approximately 50 – 70 patients with urogynaecological problems undergo clinical evaluation and urodynamic studies annually.   The urodynamic studies include uroflowmetry and substracted cystometry.  Although our patients are mainly from the Southern Province, patients from other provinces too utilize these services on special request.

  • Benefits :  Urinary incontinence among women is often a neglected area and many women suffer silently.  Our services include proper evaluation using validated questionnaires to   quantify the problem and its impact on the quality of life of women. Most importantly we establish a correct diagnosis for women with urinary incontinence using urodynamic studies and plan the appropriate management accordingly.  Success stories related by happy patients who have been successfully treated encourage more women with similar problems to come out of their shyness and fear, and to seek treatment.
  • Future :  Our aim is  to establish a dedicated urogynaecological clinic in the near future.

Conscious Out Patient Hysteroscopy (COPH)

COPH was started in December 2005.  Approximately 120 women undergo COPH annually. Women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) or post menopausal bleeding (PMB) are assessed by COPH.

  • Benefits :  Since  COPH is done as a day care procedure, we have been able to reduce the number of women needing hospital admission to undergo examination under anaesthesia and dilatation and curettage (EUA / D&C) for AUB or PMB.   In addition, the diagnostic superiority of COPH, its cost effectiveness and patient satisfaction, have increased the popularity of this procedure over the years and we have started to teach this technique to postgraduate trainees in the obstetrics & gynaecology.
  • Future :  COPH is currently carried out at half day sessions three weekly, on an appointment basis.  In the future we hope to establish a “one-stop clinic” for assessment of AUB and PMB, for patients who present to us with these problems.

Thermal Endometrial Ablation (TEA)

In Sri Lanka, hysterectomy has been the only option to treat women with failed medical treatment for Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB). Thermal Endometrial Ablation (TEA) is an effective minimal access procedure for AUB due to endometrial pathology (AUB-E) or ovulatory dysfunction (AUB-O). This treatment modality has been used in Sri Lanka infrequently.  Even though the initial cost of equipment is high, it would be cost effective in the long term, because a hysterectomy involves major surgery under general anaesthesia and requires prolonged hospitalisation. Furthermore, training of postgraduates in this new technique of TEA is a timely requirement.  Exposing undergraduates to this new minimal access treatment technique in gynaecology is also very valuable.  Currently TEA is available in the Academic Department of  Obstetrics & Gynaecology for carefully selected cases of AUB-E and AUB-O.

  • Future:   With increased use of TEA morbidity due to hysterectomy will be reduced.