What is Laparoscopy ?
The procedure of Laparoscopy makes use of a laparoscope for looking into the patient’s abdomen. The purpose of using a laparoscope is to magnify and light up the structures within the abdomen.
A laparoscope has a light source that can be passed inside the abdomen by making a tiny incision into the skin. The symptoms of pelvic pain, pelvic region, abdominal pain and swelling of the abdomen can be found out by using a laparoscopy procedure. The Doctor can clearly see inside the patient’s abdomen by using laparoscopy. The few common conditions that can be perceived by laparoscopy –
- Appendicitis
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Endometriosis
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Ovarian cyst
What is Laparoscopic Surgery ?
Laparoscopic surgery, also referred to as minimally invasive surgery or keyhole surgery, makes use of several thin instruments and a video camera. About a half an inch tiny incisions are made and then the placement of the ports (plastic tubes) is done from these incisions. Then the instruments and the camera are introduced from the ports. This enables in accessing the inside of the patient. The most commonly performed procedures are –
- Female sterilization
- The removal of parts of the intestines
- Treating ectopic pregnancy
- Removal of the gall bladder
- The removal of patches of endometriosis
- The biopsy of different structures within the abdomen
- The removal of the appendix
Why Laparoscopic surgery is done ?
Laparoscopies technique is performed for many intestinal surgeries. For some colorectal cancers, the laparoscopic surgery is very successful and safe. Some of the conditions treated by laparoscopy surgery include –
- Diverticulitis
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s disease
- Rectal prolapse
- Severe chronic constipation that was not successfully treated with the help of medication.
- Colon polyps which are very large to remove by using colonoscopy
- Colorectal cancer
- Bowel incontinence
- Familial polyposis (a condition that causes multiple colon polyps)
Who should consider Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery ?
The procedure of laparoscopic gallbladder removal is not appropriate for the patients having pre-existing medical conditions or had earlier upper abdominal surgery. A physician properly evaluates the medical conditions of the patients. The laparoscopy trained surgeon determines an appropriate procedure for removing the gallbladder.
Benefits of Laparoscopic Procedures
- A shorter stay in the hospital
- Involves small scars
- Less post-operative discomfort
- Less internal scarring
- Quick recovery
Benefits of Laparoscopic gallbladder Surgery
- The recovery is faster if the removal of gall bladder is done laparoscopically.
- Instead of 5-7 inch incision, 4 small openings is required in the abdomen.
- The patients can return to their home after a day.
- Minimal post-operative pain is involved.
Laparoscopic Abdominal Surgery
The abdominal cavity organs are thoroughly examined with the help of laparoscopic surgery procedure. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. The procedure makes use of a thin flexible tube having a video camera and a laparoscope. By making tiny incisions, the placement of a laparoscope is done inside the abdomen. It then generates the images of the abdomen on the screen. The major benefit of laparoscopy is that it provides a clear view of the abdominal structures and organs eliminating the need for surgery. After the completion of the surgery, the other instruments and the laparoscope are removed. All the incisions are then stitched back.
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
The minimally invasive procedure of laparoscopic hysterectomy is performed for removing the uterus. In this procedure a small camera is inserted by making a tiny incision in the belly button. The procedure is done by seeing the images on the screen by the means of a small camera. Then in the lower abdomen, 2 or 3 incisions are made. The insertion of the specialized instruments is done in the process of removal.
In some cases, the ovaries of the women are not removed while going through hysterectomy. If a woman chooses her ovaries to stay inside then there is no need of taking out the hormones after the completion of the surgery. Also she does not feel any hot flashes. The cause for the removal of ovaries could be abnormal growth of the ovaries or due to family history of ovarian cancer. Women can either choose a laparoscopic supra-cervical hysterectomy that keeps the cervix in place or total laparoscopic hysterectomy that entirely removes the uterus. The procedure of laparoscopic hysterectomy only requires several tiny incisions instead of 3-6 inch incision in the case of traditional abdominal hysterectomy. As a result of which there is less blood loss, less scarring and less post-operative pain.
Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery
Robot-assisted surgery is regarded as the best minimally invasive alternative to both laparoscopy and open surgery. The surgeon performs the operation with the DA Vinci’s robotic system that has no direct mechanical association with either the patient or the surgeon. The surgeon is seated at a computer console and is a few feet away from the patient. The operating field can be viewed by the surgeon from a three-dimensional view. The surgeon uses the console having hand control and directs the micro instruments, wrists and robotic arms of the machine. The benefits of robot-assisted technique includes –
- A shorter hospital stay
- Better clinical outcomes
- Significantly less pain
- Less scarring
- Reduced blood loss
- Fewer complications
- A faster return to routine daily activities
Laparoscopy Surgery for Endometriosis
Mild to moderate conditions of endometriosis is removed by the means of laparoscopy. A lighter weight laparoscope is used and is inserted by making a tiny incision. The procedure is performed for treating conditions such as severe endometriosis pain, endometriosis cyst on an ovary, endometriosis as the possible cause of infertility and severe scar tissue and endometriosis which is interfering with the internal organs namely bladder or bowel.
Cost of Laparoscopic Surgery
The laparoscopic surgery has proved very successful in India and many patients from all the corners of the world are visiting India to take a benefit from it. All the hospitals in India provide for affordable laparoscopic surgery along with excellent quality of healthcare facilities.