Laparoscopy

What is laparoscopy?

Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure that allows surgeons to examine the inside of your abdomen and pelvis using a small camera and specialized instruments. It is also known as keyhole surgery, as it involves making small incisions instead of large ones. Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that can help diagnose and treat a variety of conditions with less pain and shorter recovery time compared to traditional open surgery.

Diagnosis and therapy are two areas where laparoscopy can be immensely useful. For instance, it may be used to investigate abdominal pain or discomfort, infertility issues, or abnormal growths in the uterus or ovaries. In some cases, laparoscopy may also be used to perform surgeries such as gallbladder removal or hernia repair with a success rate as high as 90%.

Why is laparoscopy used?

Laparoscopy has become one of the most common surgical procedures in recent years due to its effectiveness, safety, and fast recovery time. It is performed for various reasons including:

Treatment: Laparoscopy can be used as a treatment option for various conditions such as
- Endometriosis -
- Infertility
- gallstones
- fibroids
- ovarian cysts
- ectopic pregnancy
- hernias
- inguinal hernia repair
- cancer staging
Diagnosis: In cases where the diagnosis is required but there are no clear symptoms or signs on physical examination or imaging studies like ultrasound or MRI scans; laparoscopy may be recommended. This procedure helps doctors visualize internal organs directly and accurately identify any abnormalities present. Laparoscopy is typically used to examine the following organs:
- Gallbladder
- Liver
- Intestines
- Appendix
- Pancreas
- Uterus
- Fallopian tubes

Who performs laparoscopy?

Laparoscopy is typically performed by a specialist surgeon who has been trained in the technique. The medical professionals who may be involved in laparoscopy include:

Gynaecologist – treats problems in the female reproductive system
Gastroenterologist – treats problems in the digestive system
Urologist – treats problems in the urinary system

Risks and Benefits

What are the benefits of laparoscopy?

Laparoscopy, also known as keyhole surgery, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its numerous benefits:

One of the main advantages of laparoscopy is that it involves smaller incisions and less scarring compared to traditional open surgery which makes it less risky than traditional surgery
Due to the smaller incisions used during laparoscopic procedures, patients experience less pain and discomfort post-surgery. Recovery time is often quicker too, allowing patients to return home sooner and resume their normal activities faster than with open surgery.
Another benefit of laparoscopy is reduced blood loss during the procedure. This means there's a lower risk of needing a blood transfusion afterwards.
Additionally, because laparoscopy allows for more precise surgical movements with better visualization than traditional methods, there's also a lower risk of damaging surrounding tissue or organs.
Most importantly, laparoscopic surgeries have been shown to produce similar outcomes as traditional surgeries but with fewer complications overall. For example, patients who undergo laparoscopic gallbladder removal have shorter hospital stays and fewer overall complications than those who undergo open surgery.

What are the risks of laparoscopy?

Some potential risks associated with laparoscopy include:

Bleeding and blood clots
Infection
organ damage or perforation
complications from anaesthesia

Although the risks are relatively low for most patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures, it's essential to discuss these potential complications with your doctor before deciding on surgery.

Procedure Details

How laparoscopy is carried out

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that uses a laparoscope to examine the organs in the abdominal cavity.

The laparoscope is a slender, pliant cylinder that features a light and camera at its terminus, enabling the surgeon to observe the organs through a video monitor
Before carrying out laparoscopy, patients are usually given general anaesthesia to ensure they don't feel any discomfort during the procedure. Once anaesthetized, small incisions are made in the abdomen through which trocars (thin tubes) are inserted.
The laparoscope and other specialised surgical instruments are then passed through these trocars into the abdominal cavity. Carbon dioxide gas may be used to inflate or distend the abdominal wall slightly so that there is more room for visualization and movement of instruments.
The surgeon can then move around inside of your abdomen using long-handled tools while watching what's happening through monitors in surgery. They'll use these tools as well as images from cameras mounted on tiny telescopes placed next to each tooltip within their body cavities- often positioned very close together so they can get good views without disturbing anything unnecessarily!
Once all necessary steps have been taken during surgery, everything will be removed carefully from your body before closing up any wounds left behind by entry points such as those created with insertion sites where initial incisions were made earlier- giving you time to recover properly after this highly effective treatment option!

Recovery

How long does it take to recover after Laparoscopy?

After one week of surgery, you can go back to your normal routine.

Key Takeaway:

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique that allows doctors to examine and operate on the inside of the abdomen using a small camera and specialized instruments.
Laparoscopy is used for diagnostic purposes or as a treatment option for various conditions, such as endometriosis, infertility, fibroids, ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, hernias, and cancer staging.
The benefits of laparoscopy include shorter recovery time, less scarring, and less pain after surgery.
Laparoscopy should only be performed by experienced surgeons, and patients considering laparoscopic surgery should speak with their doctor about their specific condition and overall health status.

Frequently asked questions:

Is Laparoscopy a major surgery?
Laparoscopic surgery can be both major and minor based on what procedure is being done.
Is Laparoscopic surgery painful?
At the place of incision, there may be minor pain and discomfort at the place of the incision. Your healthcare provider may recommend a pain-killing medicine
What is the success rate of laparoscopy in fertility treatment?
It has a success rate of 30%

Reference

Dr Purva Singh

MBBS MS OBGYN
IVF Specialist