Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure used to examine the organs inside the abdomen and pelviswith an instrument called a laparoscope. This instrument is a thin, flexible tube with a light and a small video camera on the end which is inserted to the abdominal wall of a patient through an incision. Laparaoscopy is also known as minimally invasive surgery or keyhole surgery.
When is it used?
Laparoscopy can be used for both surgical and diagnostic procedures.
- Laparoscopy is performed when imaging tests like CT scans are unable to provide enough information. For instance, a sample of suspected cancerous tissue, called a biopsy, can be obtained to be sent to a laboratory for testing. Cancers that can be diagnosed using laparoscopy include: liver cancer, colon cancer, gynecologic cancers.
- Laparoscopy can be used to treat small cancers.
The procedure
Laparoscopy is performed under general anaesthetic and is usually done as an outpatient procedure. The patient will be asked to not eat or drink for 6 to 12 hours beforehand.
The surgeon makes an incision which is around 2cm near the patient’s belly button. Then a small tube called a cannula is inserted to inflate your abdomen with carbon dioxide gas, allowing more space for doctors to examine your abdominal organs. A laparoscope is inserted through this tube can relays images to a monitor in the operating theatre. At the end the gas is let out of the patient’s abdomen and the incisions are closed.
If the laparoscopy is performed for diagnostic purpose, the procedures usually take 30-60 minutes. It will take longer if carrying out a surgical treatment and further incisions will be made.
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