Laparoscopic surgery begins by inflating your abdomen with carbon dioxide gas to give the surgeon working and viewing space. A camera connected to the laparoscope displays images from inside your abdomen on a high-resolution monitor.
Surgical instruments are passed through narrow tubes called trocars to access abdominal organs, with gas then released and cuts closed afterwards.
Minimally Invasive
Minimally invasive laparoscopy involves making several small cuts (known as portals) through which your surgeon inserts long, thin surgical instruments and a camera, giving them access to a 3D view of your organs and helping them perform surgeries more accurately while causing less collateral tissue damage.
Smaller cuts lead to less blood loss and quicker healing times, depending on the procedure you may need to undergo. You may need to fast (i.e. don’t consume any food or liquid) prior to commencing this treatment plan.
Numerous types of surgeries are now performed using minimally invasive techniques, including kidney and prostate removal (nephrectomy and prostatectomy respectively) as well as pelvic organ prolapse repair (sacrocolpopexy). There are also minimally invasive ways of doing chest surgeries such as cancerous tumour removal or pectus excavatum repair that require more experience but provide similar benefits; these procedures may include use of catheters to monitor fluid levels as well as devices designed to aid breathing.
Faster Recovery
Laparoscopic surgery often speeds up recovery, as you only remain hospitalized for shorter durations, enabling you to return home more quickly after discharge from care.
At your laparoscopy, an anesthetic (medicine to put you to sleep) will be administered. Once asleep, a small incision will be made in your belly button and the abdomen inflated with carbon dioxide gas to give surgeons “working room.” A thin tube equipped with a camera known as a laparoscope will then be inserted through this incision so video images of your abdomen can be shown on screen.
After your procedure, excess air is released from your tummy and any cuts are closed. While you will require some downtime following this treatment, exercise slowly while eating healthily and drinking plenty of water to aid recovery faster. Furthermore, it’s wise to avoid foods which cause bloating.
Less Pain
Laparoscopic surgery uses smaller incisions than traditional surgeries, often leading to less discomfort during recovery. Your surgeon inserts the laparoscope through one of your incisions and projects images of what’s happening inside onto a monitor – this allows them to perform surgery without touching your organs directly and risk of injury or complications is reduced significantly.
After your surgery, you may experience moderate to severe discomfort at the site of any incisions made, but this should fade over time. Anesthesia used may also leave your throat sore.
Your body might also experience a bloated sensation due to carbon dioxide gas used for inflating your abdomen, creating air pockets which irritate nerves under your diaphragm and send pain signals up through your shoulders. Furthermore, opioid pain medications may cause constipation; your physician can recommend either dietary changes or medication in order to alleviate constipation issues.
Less Scarring
Conventional surgery typically requires surgeons to make large incisions that result in scarring. With laparoscopic surgery, however, your surgeon only needs to create several small openings – usually no larger than half an inch each (hence its nickname of keyhole surgery) through which they can insert tubes containing cameras and surgical instruments into.
Your surgeon can see inside of your body with ease thanks to a camera that transmits high-resolution images directly into large video monitors in the operating room, meaning you’re able to leave sooner and heal more rapidly.
Some patients who undergo laparoscopy only require one day in hospital and can go home that same day; however, more complex procedures might necessitate an extended hospital stay in order for your surgeon to care for any incisions made during surgery.
