WHAT IS LAPAROSCOPY
Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure commonly used to visualize and examine the organs inside the abdomen, diagnose and treat a number of medical conditions.
- Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure with fewer side effects, low risks and shorter recovery time.
- In laparoscopy, an instrument called laparoscope is used to look at the abdominal organs.
- A laparoscope is a long, thin tube with a high-intensity light and a very tiny camera at the front.
- The instrument is inserted through a small incision in the abdominal walls which allows viewing of the affected area. This is made possible by the camera that sends images to a video monitor as the instrument moves along the abdomen
- Laparoscopy allows the doctor to see inside the body progressively, without an open medical procedure. The doctor can additionally acquire biopsy tests amid this method.
WHY DO DOCTORS PERFORM LAPAROSCOPY
- It is used to identify and diagnose the source of abdominal, pelvic pain and a large variety of medical conditions
- It is also used when noninvasive methods are not able to help with diagnosis
The doctor may recommend a laparoscopy to examine:
- Liver
- Appendix
- Pancreas
- Spleen
- Stomach
- Small and large intestine
- Pelvic organ
- Gallbladder
By using laparoscopy procedure in this areas, the doctors can detect
- Liver disease
- A mass or tumor
- Fluid in the abdominal cavity
- The effectiveness of certain treatment
- The stage of some particular cancer
Operations often performed with this procedure include the following:
- Removal of a diseased organ such as the gallbladder
- Removal or repair of organs such as the bladder, kidneys, uterus, fallopian tubes, or the diseased part of the stomach
- Tubal litigation
HOW IS LAPAROSCOPY PERFORMED
Laparoscopy is performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning that the patient can return home the same day the surgery is carried out.
During this kind of surgery, provision is made for general anesthesia which is given intravenously. This means the patient is asleep during surgery.
During surgery, a small tube called a cannula is inserted into the body through a small surgical opening (incision) below the belly button.
Once inside, the cannula is used to inflate the abdomen with carbon dioxide gas so the internal organs can be visualized.
The surgeon then inserts laparoscope through the incision.
The camera attached to the laparoscopy allows the organs to be viewed from a screen in the operating room
Other instruments may be inserted into the small incisions depending on the specific procedure the surgeon is performing, whether it is removing an organ, diagnosing a specific disease, taking a sample of a tissue (biopsy), or repairing an organ.
When the surgery is finished, the instruments are removed, the incisions are stitched and bandaged.
RESULT
If the procedure was done for diagnosis or to view a diseased organ, the patient will meet with the doctor to go over the result of the surgery.
If a serious medical condition was discovered, the doctor will discuss appropriate treatment options with such patient and come up with a plan for treating such condition
If a biopsy was taken, a pathologist will examine it and send the result to the doctor
RISK OF LAPAROSCOPY
Complications are rare but a puncture to a blood vessel or organ may cause bleeding or injury to the organ.
As with any surgery, infection in the abdomen is possible
After the procedure, it is important to watch for some signs. The doctor should be contacted if you experience:
- Fever
- Lightheadedness
- Inability to urinate
- A persistent cough
- Redness, bleeding or swelling at the incision site
- Abdominal pain that gets intense over time