CuraScript SD - What is Laparoscopy?

What is Laparoscopy?

Posted Monday, December 20, 2021

Did you know? Almost 75% of all surgery today is performed on an outpatient basis.

Serious complications after laparoscopy are estimated to occur in 1 out of every 1,000 cases.

01 | Introduction

Laparoscopy, otherwise known as keyhole surgery, is a type of outpatient surgical procedure that allows surgeons to access organs inside of the abdomen and pelvis without making large incisions in the skin. In this procedure, a laparoscope — a thin tube with a high-resolution camera attached — is passed through a small incision in the abdomen allowing doctors to see inside the body in real time, without open surgery.

02 | Using Laparoscopy

Laparoscopy is typically used to identify and diagnose the source of pelvic or abdominal pain when noninvasive methods are unable to help with diagnosis. This surgery can also be used to carry out a variety of surgical procedures such as:

Hysterectomy
Tubal sterilization
Full/partial organ removal
Weight loss surgery

03 | Risks

Laparoscopy is a commonly performed procedure with low risk of serious complications. Minor complications can involve:

Minor bleeding and bruising
Infection
Feeling sick
Vomiting

Serious complications often require further surgery. These include:

Damage to an organ
Damage to a major artery
Problems related to anesthesia
Blood clots which could travel to the pelvis, legs or lungs
Complications from the use of carbon dioxide

04 | Recovery

After the surgery, the patient will be monitored for several hours before being released from the hospital. Shoulder and neck pain are common symptoms following a laparoscopy procedure. This pain is a result of the carbon dioxide gas used to inflate the abdomen to create a working space for the surgical instruments. Some other discomforts are: