What is laparoscopic surgery?
Instead of the 6- to 12-inch cut necessary for open abdominal surgery, laparoscopic surgery uses two to four small incisions of half an inch or less. One is for the camera, and the others are for the surgical instruments. Minimally invasive surgery may also be called “keyhole surgery,” referring to these small incisions.
What is a laparoscopy?
A laparoscopy is a kind of exploratory surgery using a laparoscope. The surgeon explores your abdominal and\or pelvic cavities through one or two keyhole incisions. This is the less-invasive alternative to a laparotomy. It’s usually done for diagnostic purposes, to look for problems that imaging tests haven’t been able to identify. The surgeon may take tissue samples for biopsy during the exam. They may also be able to treat minor problems during the laparoscopy — for example, remove growths or blockages that they find during the exam.
What surgeries are performed laparoscopically?
Many common surgeries can be performed laparoscopically today. Whether you’re a candidate for laparoscopic surgery will depend on how complicated your condition is. Some complicated conditions may require open surgery to manage. However, laparoscopic surgery is becoming the preferred default method for a growing list of common operations, due to its cost-saving benefits and improved patient outcomes. The list includes:
- Cyst, fibroid, stone, and polyp removals.
- Small tumor removals.
- Biopsies.
- Tubal ligation and reversal.
- Ectopic pregnancy removal.
- Endometriosis surgery.
- Urethral and vaginal reconstruction surgery.
- Orchiopexy (testicle correction surgery).
- Rectopexy (rectal prolapse repair).
