What is Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery, also referred to as minimally invasive surgery, is the performance of surgical procedures with the assistance of a video camera and several thin instruments. During this surgical procedure, small incisions are made and plastic tubes called trocars are placed through these incisions. The camera and the instruments are then introduced through the trocars which allow access to the internal organs.
 
The camera transmits an image of the organs inside the abdomen onto a television monitor. The surgeon is now able to see into the patient without the traditional large incision. The video camera becomes a surgeon’s eyes in laparoscopic surgery, since the surgeon uses the image from the video camera to perform the procedure. Many innovations in instrumentation have allowed a wide range of procedures to be done laparoscopically.
 
Benefits
 
Many patients are able to recover from laparoscopic in a fraction of the time that open procedures require. In fact, some return to work in little more than a week. There is also a lower chance of wound complications such as infection and hernia.
 
Benefits of minimally invasive or laparoscopic procedures include:
  • less postoperative discomfort since the incisions are much smaller
  • quicker recovery times
  • shorter hospital stays
  • earlier return to full activities
  • much smaller scars
  • there may be less internal scarring when the procedures are performed in a minimally invasive fashion compared to standard open surgery
Common Laparoscopic Surgery Procedures

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gall bladder)
Laparoscopic appendectomy 
Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (groin)
Laparoscopic weight loss surgery 
Laparoscopic abdominal and complex hernia repair
Laparoscopic colon and rectal surgery 
Laparoscopic spleen surgery 
Laparoscopic adrenal surgery 
Laparoscopic gastric surgery (stomach) 
Laparoscopic fundoplication for the treatment of heartburn (reflux, GERD, hiatal hernia)
Many other procedures can be performed either partially or completely laparoscopically