Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery is a surgical technique in which short, narrow tubes (trochars) are inserted into the abdomen through small (less than one centimeter) incisions. Through these trochars, long, narrow instruments are inserted. The surgeon uses these instruments to manipulate, cut, and sew tissue.

Why a laparoscopy is done?

A laparoscopy can be used to diagnose conditions such as appendicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis and some cancers, such as liver cancer and ovarian cancer.

It's also used for surgery to treat conditions, such as: removing organs such as:

the appendix or gallbladder repairing hernias or burst or bleeding stomach ulcers removing organs affected by cancer, such as the ovaries, prostate or liver treating an ectopic pregnancy removing the womb (hysterectomy) or fibroids weight loss surgery A laparoscopy is often recommended because the recovery time is faster than other types of surgery.

Preparing for a laparoscopy The hospital will give you information about how to prepare for a laparoscopy. Depending on why you're having a laparoscopy, you may be asked to do certain things, such as: not eating or drinking stop taking certain medicines, such as anticoagulants stop smoking You cannot drive after having a laparoscopy, so you'll need to organise for someone to drive you home.