Ovarian Detorsion

Ovarian Detorsion Treatment at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Malad

When a woman doubles over with sudden, one-sided pelvic pain, the whole family feels the alarm. CritiCare Asia Hospitals is a gynaecology hospital in Mumbai that treats such emergencies promptly, with a team that explains what is happening at every step. Ovarian torsion occurs when the ovary twists on the ligaments that hold it, cutting off its own blood supply. Without treatment, the ovary can be lost. Our hospital offers ovarian detorsion treatment in Malad, Mumbai, a surgery that untwists the ovary, usually by keyhole, so that blood flow returns before the tissue is damaged beyond repair.

Recognising the Symptoms

Torsion tends to begin abruptly. The signs are usually hard to ignore:

Sudden, severe pain low on one side of the abdomen
Nausea and vomiting alongside the pain
Pain that comes in waves, easing briefly when the ovary partly untwists and then returning
Fever, which can mean the tissue has begun to die

Appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy and other abdominal emergencies can look much the same, so a scan and clinical examination are needed to be sure. The longer the ovary goes without blood, the smaller the chance of saving it, so this is not pain to wait out at home.

What Causes Ovarian Torsion?

An ovarian cyst is the commonest trigger. A larger cyst adds weight, and the ovary can rotate on its supports. Ovarian tumours, benign or cancerous, can do the same. Pregnancy raises the risk because the ovaries enlarge and shift, and torsion is seen most often in women of reproductive age, although it can occur in teenagers and, rarely, after menopause. Women who need ovarian torsion surgery in Malad, Mumbai often arrive with one of the following:

Large ovarian cysts
Benign or malignant ovarian tumours
Pregnancy, especially after fertility treatment
Polycystic ovaries with enlarged follicles
An earlier episode of torsion, in either ovary

Before the Procedure

Diagnosis and surgery usually happen on the same day, since ovarian tissue can be damaged quickly once blood flow stops. A pelvic ultrasound with Doppler studies is the main test, checking whether blood is still reaching the ovary. Blood tests and a quick clinical assessment follow, to rule out other causes of sudden pelvic pain and to confirm the patient is fit for emergency surgery.

There is little time for the long preparation of planned operations. A family member is kept informed as the team moves, and the surgeon explains the likely plan and consent before the patient goes to theatre.

During the Procedure

Surgery is usually laparoscopic, unless the case is unusually complex or urgent enough to need an open operation. Under general anaesthesia and through small incisions, the surgeon gently untwists the ovary and watches whether circulation returns. If the tissue regains its colour and looks viable, the ovary stays in place.

A cyst that caused the twisting is usually removed in the same sitting, by cystectomy, so the problem is less likely to return. Where the ovary shows no sign of recovery, removal may be needed, but surgeons try hard to avoid this, particularly in younger women and those planning a pregnancy. Oophoropexy, which anchors the ovary to lower the chance of re-twisting, is sometimes added.

After the Procedure

Recovery from laparoscopic detorsion is usually quick, as with most keyhole gynaecological surgery. Pain in the first day or two is managed with prescribed medicines, and walking begins early to support circulation and reduce clot risk. Some soreness around the incisions is normal.

In the following weeks, a repeat ultrasound confirms that the ovary is working and that the torsion has not returned. Pain like the original sharp episode should prompt an immediate call to the treating team, because re-torsion, though uncommon, can happen.