Laparoscopy

What is laparoscopy?

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique. Your surgeon uses specially designed surgical tools that they insert through a few small incisions in your body. One of the surgical instruments they use is a laparoscope.

A laparoscope is a long, slender tube mounted with a light and a camera. Your surgeon inserts the laparoscope into your body, and the camera sends a video feed onto a screen in the operating room. This allows your doctor to examine your internal organs without having to make a big incision in your body.

Why would I need laparoscopy?

The team at Swor Women’s Care uses laparoscopy to diagnose and treat a wide range of gynecological health issues. For example, some of the surgeries they perform include:

• Diagnostic exploration
• Ovarian cyst removal
• Uterine fibroid removal
• Hysterectomy
• Tubal ligation
• Treatments for prolapse or incontinence

Swor Women’s Care offers both manual and robotically assisted laparoscopic procedures. If you need a gynecologic surgery, talk to your provider about minimally invasive options and if they’re right for you.

What happens during laparoscopy?

Laparoscopy is performed while you’re under general anesthesia. Once you are prepared for surgery and comfortably asleep, your doctor makes a two or three 1/2 inch incisions in your navel and abdomen. They insert the laparoscope and inflate your abdomen with air. This creates space for clear images and also for your surgeon to perform the surgery.

Then, your doctor inserts small, specially designed surgical tools mounted on thin tubes into your body. Using the video screen, they can look for signs of diseases like endometriosis or perform surgeries to repair or restore your health.

Laparoscopy usually only takes a couple of hours, and in some cases, you can return home after you recover from anesthesia and your doctor releases you.

What should I expect when recovering from laparoscopy?

Recovery from laparoscopy usually takes less time and is less painful than recovering from traditional open surgeries. You’ll still need to take some time off of work and may need over-the-counter painkillers to relieve any surgical pain. In most cases, you can get back to your regular activities within a few weeks of your surgery.

In addition to a quicker recovery, laparoscopy causes less internal and external scarring and reduces your risk of infection.

If you need a gynecological surgery, call Swor Women’s Care or schedule a consultation online and discover if laparoscopy is the right procedure for you.