During laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon makes just minor incisions to gain access to the abdominal cavity. It is a subset of surgeries known as “minimally invasive” because of the few incisions needed for the procedure. When compared to open surgery, when larger incisions (and scars) must be made, this method has many advantages. Read on to learn more from Dr. Michael Sutker McKinney.
What kinds of cases call for laparoscopic surgery?
Surgeons often use laparoscopic procedures to investigate and treat health issues.
Diagnosis
When only a laparoscope is used during surgery, it is called laparoscopy. They can see inside the belly button without any obstruction. Even though imaging tests like CT scans and MRIs can tell doctors a lot about a patient’s internal health, they are not foolproof. The best course of action may actually be to go and have a look sometimes. Laparoscopy is frequently used to diagnose endometriosis, a prevalent source of lower abdomen pain in women.
Biopsy is another common use for laparoscopy by surgeons. To diagnose disease, a doctor will take a small tissue sample and analyze it under a microscope. A biopsy, for example, is used to confirm a cancer diagnosis and determine the exact subtype of the disease. Surgeons can use laparoscopy to find and retrieve a biopsy-ready tissue sample.
Treatment
Surgeons also do actual operations using laparoscopic techniques. Appendicitis (by appendectomy) and a variety of gallbladder disorders are commonly treated with laparoscopic surgery (by removing the gallbladder). As more advanced methods are developed, more surgical procedures are now within surgeons’ reach using this method.
The advantages of laparoscopic surgery
When opposed to open surgery, laparoscopic procedures have significant advantages. That is why doctors generally favor it.
Laparoscopic procedures have many advantages:
- Lower Scar Size
- Reduced need for painkillers
- It bleeds less
- Reduced hospital stays
- Reduced time needed to recover and resume normal activities
Who can have a laparoscopic procedure done?
The answer is “depends.” However, laparoscopic techniques are not always applicable. And in other cases, an open operation may be the safer choice. There are some variables to think about before settling on a strategy. Therefore, it is recommended that you discuss your choices with your physician.
Surgery recovery time after laparoscopic surgery?
Similar to open surgery, the speed of recovery can be affected by some factors, such as:
- The reason for surgery
- The age and complexity of the person’s health problems
- The frequency of complications after surgery
For some, feeling better could take up to two weeks. For some, the process may take longer. Your surgeon is the best person to answer your question about how long it will take to recover from surgery.
