Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery that is preferable over conventional open surgery in most operative procedures because it is cost-effective with faster recovery and improved operative outcomes.
Laparoscopy and Laparoscopic Surgery
A laparoscopy is a diagnostic method to explore the abdominal and pelvic cavities with a laparoscope, a thin rod with a camera and light source attached at its tip, placed into the abdomen through a hallow port inserted through a small skin incision. The video image will display on a high-definition video monitor screen. It helps discover problems that are not visible through medical imaging tests. Biopsy or surgical resection can be performed in the same setting.
Laparoscopic surgery is an abdominal and pelvic surgical technique using a laparoscope inserted through a hallow port placed through a small umbilical skin incision. Carbon dioxide gas is pumped into the abdomen via a side channel in the port to lift the abdominal wall from the abdominal organs for better visualization. Additional hallow ports for surgical instruments are placed as needed via 2-4 small keyhole skin incisions (0.25 inch or less). Minimally invasive surgery obviates the need to make a large 6- to 12-inch surgical incisional wound, which is necessary for a conventional open abdominal surgery.
The surgical techniques are applicable in other body areas, but the scopes are named differently. For example, a thoracoscope is for viewing the lungs, an arthroscope is for the knees, or an endoscope is to diagnose the thyroid gland.
Common Laparoscopic Surgeries
Your doctor will evaluate if you are the right candidate for laparoscopic surgery. If your condition is very complicated, open surgery may be more suitable. Currently, the laparoscopic surgical technique is applicable for:
- Adrenalectomy
- Appendectomy
- Biopsies
- Cholecystectomy
- Colectomy
- Cystectomy
- Cyst, fibroid, stone, and polyp removals
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Endometriosis surgery
- Fundoplication
- Gastrectomy
- Gastric bypass surgery for obesity
- Hernia repair surgery
- Liver resection
- Nephrectomy
- Orchiopexy
- Pancreaticoduodenectomy
- Prostatectomy
- Radical nephroureterectomy
- Rectopexy
- Small tumor removals
- Splenectomy
- Tubal ligation and reversal
- Urethral and vaginal reconstructive surgery
Advantages of laparoscopic surgery
Hospital admission may not be necessary in some cases with minimally invasive surgery, and you can go home on the same day. Some risks and postoperative complications are lower than open surgery. Some of the advantages are:
- Less blood loss
- Less wound or trauma to the abdominal wall
- Smaller scars
- Reduced hemorrhage
- Reduced wound infection
- Shorter hospital stay; more cost-effective
- Faster recovery time
- Fewer pain medications required
There can be mild postoperative wound pain which is manageable with pain medications. If you feel your condition does not improve, consult your doctor.
Continuing refinements of laparoscopic surgical instrumentations enable more complex operations to be done laparoscopically with a higher success rate. It is an innovative surgical procedure that is widely adopted and frequently recommended to patients due to its numerous benefits over traditional open surgery.
