Pelvic pain and endometriosis. His assessment is comprehensive. He involves a Women’s Health Physiotherapist, or a colorectal surgeon, or a urologist in treatment, if necessary. Your surgery will be performed by a team of 2 skillful surgeon, as Dr. Richter believes that a strong team is better able to manage complex cases. He is presently studying the complex field of neuropelveology, watch this space!
Endoscopic surgery and pelvic pain
What is endoscopic surgery? This technique refers to minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Instead of making large incisions, a camera is attached to a telescope and this can be used to view the abdominal and pelvic cavities, the uterine cavity and the bladder. Over the past 30 years there has been incredible development in surgical techniques and in instrumentation technology. At present the vast majority of surgical procedures, that required large abdominal wall incisions, can now be performed through a few small (5-10mm) incisions. This includes hysterectomy, excision of painful endometriosis, removal of adhesions causing pelvic pain, pelvic reconstruction and incontinence surgery. The benefits, in properly trained hands, is a much lower complications rate, much faster recovery, much less pain and a better cosmetic result
Dr. Richter started training in advanced gynaecological endoscopic surgical techniques over 25 years ago. In 2004 he started working with Dr. Harry Reich, the American Gynecologist who performed the first laparoscopic hysterectomy 30 years ago. He will be eternally grateful to Dr. Reich, who was a true pioneer and taught him master-level laparoscopic techniques. From 2013 until 2018 he was director of gynaecological endoscopic surgery at the University of the Free State, in South Africa. During his tenure there, him and his present colleague, Dr. Jaco Strydom, presented international endoscopic surgery courses and performed exhibition surgeries. Dr. Richter has vast experience of complex and complicated gynaecological problems and can help patients with almost any gynaecological problem. He is in full-time practice on the Cayman Islands and consults part time in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
He can manage the following conditions:
Laparoscopic hysterectomy. Dr. Richter routinely exhausts all other options before resorting to hysterectomy. But if hysterectomy is necessary, it is best to make sure that your surgeon is appropriately trained and experienced. He has perfomed several hundred total laparoscopic hysterectomies and has been teaching the techniques to other gynaecologists.
Abnormal bleeding. Dr. Richter is able to perform assessment and treatment of abnormal bleeding. Evaluation includes office-based ultrasound. Fembryo in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, is also able to offer office hysteroscopy. An anesthetist can administer “twilight sleep” and patient’s can have their treatment in a comfortable environment, not requiring admission to a hospital.
Infertility. Dr. Richter is able to perform work-up of the infertile couple and infertility surgery. He usually refers subfertile couples to his able colleagues at Fembryo (fembryo.co.za)
Uterine fibroids. Dr. Richter is able to excise fibroids either laparoscopically, or hysteroscopically, unless their size requires different techniques.
Cystoscopy. Cystoscopy is often performed in cases of urinary problems and can also be performed in an office-based setting.
