After several Pap tests indicate that there are changes or abnormal cells on the surface area lining your cervix that may be precancerous, your personal physician will refer you to a Victorville General Surgeon for cervical cryosurgery. Cervical cryosurgery is a procedure that freezes and destroys the abnormal cervical tissues found during Pap tests. The surgeon will determine if you are a good candidate for this non-invasive surgery with additional testing to ensure the abnormal cells are clearly identified and localized.
Non-Invasive Cervical Cryosurgery
The surgery is performed as an out-patient procedure. You will not need to fast before the surgery because you will not be given an anesthesia and will be awake during the procedure. Your surgeon may give you a sedative so that you can be relaxed. This procedure does not require any incisions, so there will be no sutures or scaring. While the actual surgery requires less than 30 minutes, you may be at the clinic for a few hours from the time you arrive.
You will be positioned on an examination table with your feet placed in stirrups. The surgeon will insert a medical speculum into your vagina in order to see your cervix. A medical cryoprobe is placed into the vagina until it covers all of the abnormal cells to be removed. Then, either liquid nitrogen or a compressed gas will flow through the cryoprobe at a temperature of about -20 degrees Celsius to freeze and destroy the abnormal cervical cells. The affected area will be frozen for three minutes. The cervix is then allowed to thaw, and the procedure is repeated for an additional three minutes. The cryoprobe and the speculum are removed at the end of the surgery.
