A laparoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure your surgeon does to look for problems in your stomach or pelvic area. They use a tool called a laparoscope, which is a thin, telescopic rod with a video camera on the end. Your surgeon puts the laparoscope through a small cut (incision) in your belly (abdomen) measuring half an inch or less. Surgeons may make up to three more cuts to insert other surgical instruments so they can see all the organs in your belly and find any problems.
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The laparoscope camera projects an image of the inside of your belly or pelvis onto a monitor in real time. Using these images, surgeons can watch their hand motions during the procedure.
Your healthcare provider might recommend a laparoscopy if other diagnostic tests can’t identify the cause of your condition. Healthcare providers also use laparoscopy to collect tissue samples (biopsies) for testing.
Traditional surgeries best suited for laparoscopic surgeries include:
Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure, but that doesn’t always mean it’s a minor surgery. Many abdominal procedures can be done as laparoscopic surgeries, but they’re still major surgeries. Your surgeon is the best person to tell you if your procedure is a major surgery, how to prepare for it and what to expect during recovery.
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Laparoscopic surgery is similar to a laparoscopy. But instead of looking for medical problems, your healthcare provider uses a laparoscope and surgical instruments to operate on your internal organs. People often use the terms interchangeably.
Healthcare providers use laparoscopies for many common surgeries. More complicated conditions may require traditional “open” surgery through a larger incision. But healthcare providers prefer laparoscopic surgery for a growing list of everyday operations because it costs less and improves surgical outcomes.
Follow these guidelines before the procedure or surgery:
You’ll lay on the operating table slightly tilted with your head lower than your feet. Your anesthesiologist will give you general anesthesia to relax your muscles and prevent you from feeling pain during surgery.
Your surgeon will then make a small cut near your belly button or under your rib cage. They’ll insert a gas tube into this incision to fill your belly with gas. Pumping the area with gas makes your organs easier to see on the monitor.
After removing the gas tube, your surgeon inserts the laparoscope. They may insert surgical instruments through incisions nearby to take tissue samples or perform surgical procedures.
Your surgeon will let the gas out of your body once the procedure is over and close your incisions.
A diagnostic laparoscopy usually takes from 30 minutes to one hour. Laparoscopic surgery can take from one to three hours, depending on how complicated your condition is. If the surgeon can’t safely complete the operation using laparoscopically, they may need to switch to a traditional open procedure with a larger incision.
After surgery, you’ll usually stay in a recovery room for about one hour while providers monitor your vital signs until you wake up.
You may have pain after surgery from small amounts of gas left in your body, as well as internal pain from the surgery or around your incisions. It’s also common to have shoulder pain. Your provider will give you pain medication to make you more comfortable.
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Before leaving the hospital, schedule your follow-up appointment so your healthcare provider can check your healing progress.
After you get home from laparoscopic surgery, you’ll want to take it easy for at least a day or two. You should follow these steps:
For more information, please visit Laparoscopic Instrument.
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You can usually return to work three days after surgery, but check with your healthcare provider to be sure. If you need a doctor’s letter excusing you from work, please ask for one at your preoperative appointment.
Usually, you can start exercising again about a week after laparoscopy. But the type of surgery you have will also make a difference. Check with your healthcare provider to be sure.
When you can start having sex after laparoscopy depends on the type of laparoscopic procedure you have. It’s always best to check with your healthcare provider first.
It’s no secret that advancements in medical technology over the last few decades have revolutionized the way surgeries are performed. But if you need surgery, it’s normal to have questions about the benefits (and drawbacks) of each technique that’s available to you.
One of the most popular methods today is laparoscopic surgery, and it’s easy to understand why. Laparoscopic surgery is minimally invasive. Incisions are typically smaller than half an inch in diameter, and it offers a range of benefits for both patients and their surgeons.
Elvira Klause, MD, specializes in laparoscopic surgery in Laguna Hills, California. The technique combines small incisions and specialized surgical instruments for surgical procedures with enhanced precision and better results than traditional open surgery.
Here are four of the best benefits of laparoscopic surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery offers unmatched enhanced precision and visualization compared to traditional methods. Dr. Klause uses a laparoscope, which is a thin tube equipped with a camera and a light, through a small incision.
The camera provides a magnified view of the surgical site on a high-definition monitor in the operating room. This makes it easier for Dr. Klause to navigate and perform intricate procedures with greater accuracy.
The laparoscopic instruments she uses are designed to mimic the movements of a surgeon's hand, enabling precise control and maneuverability within a confined space. The improved visualization and precision contribute to better surgical outcomes, reduced damage to surrounding tissues, and shorter operative times.
Small incisions offer a number of benefits during laparoscopic surgery. They help decrease blood loss, and the specialized instruments are designed to minimize bleeding by cauterizing blood vessels as the surgery progresses.
Smaller incisions also provide a natural barrier against infections. The risk of surgical site infections is lower, and Dr. Klause closes them with sutures or surgical glue once your procedure is complete.
Less blood loss and reduced risk of infection not only promote a smoother recovery, but also improve patient outcomes and reduce the need for additional medical interventions.
Another advantage of laparoscopic surgery is faster recovery and minimal scarring. Thanks to smaller incisions, laparoscopic surgery promotes faster recovery times compared to open surgery.
The smaller wounds heal more quickly, reducing the risk of post-operative complications and allowing you to return to your normal activities sooner. Reduced trauma to the surrounding tissues results in less pain and discomfort after the procedure.
Plus, those small incisions translate to smaller scars. The incisions are typically around 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters in length, allowing for reduced scarring and improved cosmetic outcomes.
Finally, laparoscopic surgery is a flexible and customizable treatment. From gynecological surgery like hysterectomy to gastrointestinal surgeries like hernia repair, laparoscopic techniques have become the standard of care.
Laparoscopic surgery offers numerous benefits for both patients and surgeons. And if you need a surgical procedure, it’s worthwhile to find out if laparoscopic surgery is a suitable option for you.
Schedule your laparoscopy consultation with Dr. Klause online or call our office at 949-245- to learn more.
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