Laparoscopy
Laparoscopy is a type of surgical procedure that allows a surgeon to access the inside of the abdomen (tummy) and pelvis without having to make large incisions in the skin. This procedure is known as Minimally Invasive Surgery. Large incisions can be avoided during laparoscopy because the surgeon uses an instrument called a laparoscope. This is 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:
- Reduced scarring
- Less pain and bleeding after the operation
- Shorter hospital stay and faster recovery time. Most people can leave the hospital either on the day of the procedure or the following day.
Laparoscopy can be used to 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.
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.
Laparoscopy is now widely used to diagnose and treat many different conditions. For example, they may be used for:
- Pelvic Pain
- Endometriosis – where small pieces of the womb lining (the endometrium) are found outside the womb
- Ovarian Cyst – a fluid-filled sac that develops on a woman’s ovary
- Ectopic Pregnancy – a pregnancy that develops outside the womb
- Female Infertility
- Fibroids – non-cancerous tumors that grow in or around the womb (uterus)
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) – a bacterial infection of the female upper genital tract, including the womb, fallopian tubes, and ovaries
Recovery
For a few days after the procedure, you’re likely to feel some pain and discomfort where the incisions were made. Some of the gas used to inflate your abdomen can remain inside your abdomen after the procedure, which can cause: bloating, cramps, and shoulder pain, as the gas, can irritate your diaphragm (the muscle you use to breathe), which in turn can irritate nerve endings in your shoulder
These symptoms are nothing to worry about and should pass after a day or so, once your body has absorbed the remaining gas.
Most people will resume their normal routine in 1 week for a minor procedure and 4-6 weeks for major procedures.
