13.4
Loop Electrosurgical Excision
Procedure (LEEP)
Katherine Fuh and Paul D. Blumenthal
Relevant Anatomy
Cervix, transformation zone, squamocolumnar junction, internal cervical os, limits of
cervical lesion.
Patient Position
• Dorsal lithotomy
Anesthesia
• Paracervical block—1% lidocaine (Refer to Chapter 13.7 and Figures 13.7.1 and 13.7.2)
Equipment
• Loop electrode–size dependent on area to excise
• Electrosurgical generator
• Grounding pad
• Nonconductive Graves speculum with integrated smoke tube
• Suction tubing
• 5% acetic acid
• Lugol’s solution
• Long cotton swabs
• Endocervical curette
• Ball electrode
• Monsel’s paste/solution
• Tissue forceps
• Formalin container
• Suture
• Needle driver
• Scissors
• Supplies for paracervical block
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Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP)
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Figure 13.4.1 ● Loop electrode being positioned over area to be excised (top) and initial
insertion of probe into cervical tissue (bottom). From Mayeaux EJ, Jr. Loop electrosurgical excisional procedure. In: Mayeaux EJ, Jr, ed. The essential guide to primary care procedures. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009:607–617.
Technique
1. Place grounding pad horizontally over patient’s thigh.
2. Place speculum with suction tubing connected. Cleanse cervix and perform paracervical block.
3. Place acetic acid on the cervix.
4. Excise area of acetowhite lesion. Alternatively, Lugol’s solution may be applied
to identify and excise lesion.
5. Set electrosurgical generator at 30 to 40 W on “blend 1.” (Other settings may be
used such as 80 W “pure cut.”)
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A Practical Guide to Office Gynecologic Procedures
Figure 13.4.2 ● Loop electrode being passed through cervical stroma under the transfor-
mation zone (top) resulting in an excisional biopsy (bottom). From Mayeaux EJ, Jr. Loop electrosurgical excisional procedure. In: Mayeaux EJ, Jr, ed. The essential guide to primary care procedures. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009:607–617.
6. Place normal saline on the exocervix to rehydrate the tissue and decrease risk of
loop electrode sticking to tissue.
7. Loop is carefully passed simultaneously around and under the transformation zone,
thus excising it. The loop should be allowed to glide through the cervix from one side
to the other, allowing the cutting current to divide the tissue (Figs. 13.4.1–13.4.3).
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Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP)
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Figure 13.4.3 ● Forceps being used to remove excised tissue. From Mayeaux EJ, Jr. Loop
electrosurgical excisional procedure. In: Mayeaux EJ, Jr, ed. The essential guide to primary care
procedures. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009:607–617.
8. If the lesion extends into the endocervical canal beyond the reach of the loop,
additional tissue may be excised with a smaller-diameter rectangular loop (“high
hat”) (Fig. 13.4.4).
9. Remove the specimen in the correct orientation.
10. Place a suture at 12 o’clock on the excised specimen to orient for histopathologic
analysis.
11. Achieve hemostasis at the base of the specimen with coagulation using the 5-mm
ball electrode and Monsel’s paste/solution.
Figure 13.4.4 ● Rectangular probe being used to excise tissue from higher in the endocervical canal. From Mayeaux EJ, Jr. Loop electrosurgical excisional procedure. In: Mayeaux EJ,
Jr, ed. The essential guide to primary care procedures. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins, 2009:607–617.
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A Practical Guide to Office Gynecologic Procedures
Aftercare
• The patient is instructed to avoid intercourse and place nothing in the vagina, and
not immerse herself in water (e.g., take a bath or swim) for 2 to 4 weeks. She is seen
in the office at 6 weeks.
• If Monsel’s solution was used, remind the patient that she will have brown, grainylike discharge for several days.
CPT Code
57522.Conization of cervix, with or without fulguration, with or without dilation
and curettage, with or without repair; loop electrode excision
Pearls
• A blended current mixes cutting and coagulating currents.
• The higher the blend, the more the coagulating current and the greater the thermal
damage.
• If the surgeon attempts to pull too quickly through the cervix, the loop will drag,
bend, or adhere to the tissue, resulting in a shallower excision than was intended.
If the loop moves too slowly, however, excess thermal damage to the specimen will
occur. Application of saline onto the exocervix further decreases this risk.
• If hemostasis is difficult to achieve with the ball electrode and Monsel’s paste,
sutures may be necessary.
• Place a suture at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock. This must be performed at a distal point
on the cervix to avoid ureteral compromise and may reduce bleeding by reducing
pulse pressure from the cervical artery. Place Gelfoam at the base and tie the
suture across the front of the cervix to keep the Gelfoam in place.
• Follow-up in 6 weeks to assess cervical healing, but no action should be taken with
respect to dysplasia at this time.
• If colposcopy was satisfactory, an assessment of cervical cytology with or without
colposcopy is performed approximately 6 months postoperatively. This should
not be performed before 4 months since any specimens obtained at this time are
frequently contaminated with debris, metaplastic cells, and leukocytes. If either
colposcopy was unsatisfactory or LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure)
was performed for a recurrent CIN II/III lesion, HPV testing is performed at 6 and
12 months postoperatively.
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