Laparoscopy is a type of surgical procedure that allows a surgeon to access, diagnose a wide range of conditions and operate inside of the abdomen (tummy) and pelvis without having to make large incisions in the skin.This procedure is also known as keyhole surgery or minimally invasive surgery.
This type of surgery uses a small tube that has a light source and a camera, which relays images of the inside of the abdomen or pelvis to a television monitor.
The advantages of this technique over traditional open surgery include:
- a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery time
- less pain and bleeding after the operation
- reduced scarring
Uses of Laparoscopy- Laparoscopy help diagnose a wide range of conditions that develop inside the abdomen or pelvis. It can also be used to carry out surgical procedures, such as removing a damaged or diseased organ, or removing a tissue sample for further testing (biopsy)
How laparoscopy is done
Laparoscopy is carried out under General Anesthesia, so you won’t feel any pain during the procedure.
During laparoscopy, the surgeon makes one or more small incisions in the abdomen. These allow the surgeon to insert the laparoscope, small surgical tools, and a tube used to pump gas into the abdomen. This makes it easier for the surgeon to look around and operate.
After the procedure, the gas is let out of your abdomen, the incisions are closed using stitches and a dressing is applied.
You can often go home on the same day of your laparoscopy, although you may need to stay in hospital overnight
Laparoscopic procedure can be diagnostic or Operative- DiagnosticLaparoscopy- used to see inside of abdomen and diagnose certain conditions and diseases like endometriosis, blocked Fallopian tubes, Genital Tuberculosis, Pelvic inflammatory disease etc.
Operative Laparoscopy is used to do various surgical procedures like-
- Removal of Endometriotic cyst
- Removal of Ovarian cyst
- Hysterectomies
- Removal of fibroids
- Removal of tubes or ovaries
- Family planning operation- Tubectomy
- Bladder neck suspension for incontinence
- Infertility Surgery
- Pelvic floor repair for prolapsed
Complications of Laparoscopic Surgery–
The risks associated with laparoscopy surgery include:
- Risk of damage to internal structures, such as blood vessels, the stomach, bowel, bladder, or ureter.
- bleeding and the potential need for a blood transfusion.
- infection
- hernia
- adverse reactions to anesthesia
- blood clots
- The risks associated with the laparoscopy surgery are quoted to occur for 3 cases per 1000 surgeries. The most common risk associated with laparoscopy is damage to major blood vessel or bowel. This occurs due to the insertion of a laparoscope through a small opening in the abdomen and can also lead to serious infection or bleeding.
- Another unknown risk with laparoscopy is a disturbance of heart rhythms. This happens due to the penetration of CO2 through veins. However, the condition is very rare and is estimated to affect 1 among 25,000-30,000 cases.