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Laparoscopy
Laparoscopy is a way of doing surgery using small incisions (cuts). It is different from “open” surgery where the incision on the skin can be several inches long. Laparoscopic surgery sometimes is called “minimally invasive surgery.”
How is laparoscopic surgery done?
Laparoscopic surgery uses a special instrument called the laparoscope. The laparoscope is a long, slender device that is inserted into the abdomen through a small incision. It has a camera attached to it that allows the doctors to view the abdominal and pelvic organs on an electronic screen. If a problem needs to be fixed, other instruments can be used. These instruments usually are inserted through additional small incisions in the abdomen. They sometimes can be inserted through the same single incision made for the laparoscope. This type of laparoscopy is called “single-site” laparoscopy.
Benefits of laparoscopy
- Less bleeding due to small incisions
- Less infection, due to less bleeding
- Less pain
- Less recovery time and patient can return to his normal life, 2 or 3 days after surgery
What surgeries can be done by laparoscopy?
All female surgeries expect cesarean can be done by laparoscopy, such as:
- Removing ovarian cysts
- Removing fibroids
- Removing fallopian tubes
- Treating uterine cancer
Laparoscopy preparation
- You don’t eat or drink, 6- 8 hours before surgery
- You should take a bath, night before surgery
- You should shave hair on the genital
- Inform your doctor if you have a special medical condition
- Having any material or implant in the breast, should be informed
- If you are in period cycle, postpone this surgery
What are the risks associated with laparoscopy?
Laparoscopy can take longer to perform than open surgery. The longer time under anesthesia may increase the risk of complications. Sometimes complications do not appear right away but occur a few days to a few weeks after surgery. Problems that can occur with laparoscopy include the following:
- Bleeding or a hernia (a bulge caused by poor healing) at the incision sites
- Internal bleeding
- Infection
- Damage to a blood vessel or other organ, such as the stomach, bowel, bladder, or ureters
What happens after laparoscopy
- It’s better to avoid eating or drinking, 8- 12 hours after surgery
- You can start liquid diet after 12 hours
- You should care about temperature of the body, because there is risk of infection.
- If you have pain, you can use the pain relief
How soon after laparoscopy can I resume my regular activities?
Your doctor will let you know when you can get back to your normal activities. For minor procedures, it is often 1–2 days after the surgery. For more complex procedures, such as hysterectomy, it can take longer. You may be told to avoid heavy activity or exercise.
