What is laparoscopy?
Laparoscopy is a way of doing surgery without making a large incision (cut). A thin tube known as the laparoscope is inserted into the abdomen through a small incision. The laparoscope allows seeing the pelvic organs. If a problem needs to be treated, other instruments are used. These instruments are inserted either through the laparoscope or through other small cuts in your abdomen.
How long will I be in the hospital for laparoscopic Surgery?
Laparoscopy often is done as outpatient surgery. You usually can go home the same day, after you have recovered from the anaesthesia. More complex procedures, such as laparoscopic hysterectomy, may require an overnight stay in the hospital.
What anaesthesia is used for laparoscopic Surgery?
Before surgery, you will be given general anaesthesia that puts you to sleep and blocks the pain.
How is laparoscopic surgery performed?
A small incision is made in your navel and we insert the laparoscope. During the procedure, the abdomen is filled with a gas (carbon dioxide). Filling the abdomen with gas allows the pelvic reproductive organs to be seen more clearly. The laparoscope shows the pelvic organs on a screen. Other incisions may be made in the abdomen for surgical instruments. These incisions usually are no more than one half an inch long. Another instrument, called a uterine manipulator, may be inserted through the cervix and into the uterus. This instrument is used to move the organs into view.
What is involved in Recovery?
If you had general anaesthesia, you will wake up in the recovery room. You will feel sleepy for a few hours. If you have had an outpatient procedure, you must have someone drive you home. Post-operative recovery is very fast.
What are the benefits of laparoscopic Surgery?
Laparoscopy has many benefits. There is less pain after laparoscopic surgery than with open abdominal surgery, which involves larger incisions, longer hospital stays, and a longer recovery.
The risk of infection also is lower. You will be able to
recover from laparoscopic surgery faster than from open abdominal surgery. It can be done as outpatient surgery, so you usually will not have to spend the night in the hospital. The smaller incisions that are used allow you to heal faster and have smaller scars.