Common Laparoscopic Surgery Questions
[accordion-item title=”What is Laparoscopic or Keyhole surgery?”]This procedure typically involves 3 or 4 very small incisions being made allowing the use of specialised instruments and a tiny camera. The entire abdomen, pelvis, uterus and ovaries can be seen on a high definition screen.
A laparoscope is a fiber-optic telescope designed to allow the surgeon to visualize and examine the organs lying within the pelvic and abdominal cavities.[/accordion-item]
[accordion-item title=”2. What are the benefits?”]This technique allows all manner of procedures to be performed without the need for a large skin incision and minimal handling of tissues.
This typically results in:
- less pain,
- faster recovery,
- minimal scarring,
- early return to normal activity, and
- reduced risk of infection.
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[accordion-item title=”3. How is laparoscopic surgery performed?”]Typically the operation is performed under general anaesthesia. A very small cut is made just below the navel through which the operating telescope (laparoscope) is inserted.
When necessary, separate small incisions are made low down and at the sides of the abdomen to allow insertion of other fine instruments, e.g. grasping forceps, scissors, etc., and these will enable organs and tissue to be grasped, moved or cut as is required for your surgery.
The incisions are closed and small dressings are often applied to cover these wounds.[/accordion-item]
[accordion-item title=”4. When can it be used?”]This procedure can be used to investigate pelvic pain, potential causes of infertility, examination of cysts and tumours, to obtain biopsy samples and to investigate suspected ectopic pregnancy – amongst other things.
From an operating perspective, common procedures include :
- To achieve female sterilisation
- For treatment of ectopic pregnancy
- To release/remove pelvic or abdominal adhesions
- To surgically treat endometriosis
- To excise or drain ovarian cysts
- To remove fibroid (benign) tumours from the uterus
- To enhance fertility eg: assisted reproductive techniques
- To facilitate hysterectomy
- To reconstruct the pelvic floor, treat prolapse and incontinence
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[accordion-item title=”5. Is it safe?”]No surgical procedure is entirely without risk, but this type of surgery attempts to minimise such risks. Anaesthesia itself has some slight risks and these are made worse by severe obesity or cigarette smoking.
There is always a small chance that unforeseen circumstances may dictate that your procedure requires an open / traditional surgery approach but this is very uncommon and occurs in < 1% of cases that are planned to proceed laparoscopically.[/accordion-item] [accordion-item title="6. When can I drive?"]This is obviously entirely dependent on your individual recovery – however whilst traditional surgery patients are encouraged to refrain from driving for a minimum of 4 weeks, you may be able to drive in as little as a few days depending on your surgery and your rate of recovery. If in doubt, always consult me for further advice.[/accordion-item] [/accordion]