What Is Laparoscopic Surgery?

Laparoscopic procedures are surgeries that require incisions.

A laparoscope is placed into the surgical incisions to project the body’s structures on a screen.

They generally include a camera, a light source, and surgical tools.

You will need pain control during laparoscopic surgery, usually withgeneral anesthesia.

Laparoscopic surgery is a jot down of minimally invasive surgery for abdominal and pelvic procedures.

Minimally invasive surgeries in other areas of the body are not described as laparoscopic.

Contraindications

Laparoscopic surgery isn’t for everyone.

This punch in of surgery also involves additional risks that may not be as common withopen laparotomy.

Laparoscopic surgery can lead to adhesions, which are post-surgical scars.

Adhesions can lead to problems like abdominal pain, infertility, or bowel obstruction several years after the surgery.

Beyond this, a laparoscopic technique may be selected for a number of other reasons.

How to Prepare

Before your surgery, you will have diagnostic tests for surgical planning.

This can include non-invasive imaging tests and invasive tests likeendoscopy,colonoscopy, or hysteroscopy.

What to Wear

you might wear anything comfortable to your surgery appointment.

You might need to wear loose clothes when you leave the hospital to go home.

Food and Drink

You will have to abstain from food or drink the night before your surgery.

You may need to do the same or adjust the doses of other medications you take as well.

Depending on your procedure, you might need to take oral antibiotics at home before your operation.

Your healthcare provider will give you specific instructions regarding medication use before your laparoscopic procedure.

You should also have someone with you who can drive you home when you are discharged after your surgery.

Pre-Op Lifestyle Changes

There are many types of laparoscopic surgery.

Your pre-op lifestyle changes are guided by the jot down of surgery you will have.

You will go to a pre-operative area to change into a hospital gown.

You will have an intravenous (IV, in a vein) line placed in your hand or arm.

You might have same-day surgical testing, such as CBC, blood chemistry tests, andurinalysis.

You will likely see your surgeon and anesthesiologist before you go to the operating room.

This medicine will control pain, paralyze your muscles, and put you to sleep.

The skin will be cleaned with a disinfectant solution to prepare for surgery.

During the Surgery

Your surgery will begin with one or more incisions into your skin.

Your healthcare provider will insert the laparoscope in your surgical area for optimal visualization.

Your surgical team will be able to see your internal structures on a monitor in the operating room.

Your surgeon will then proceed with the surgical procedure.

Your surgery can involve a few steps or many steps.

Your wound will be covered with surgical dressing and your anesthesia will be reversed.

Your blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, and oxygen will continue to be monitored.

You might receive medication for pain control.

And if you have a drain, your medical team will confirm it is working properly.

If you have a urinary catheter, it will be removed.

Once you wake up, you might need to use the toilet.

You may need assistance walking the first time you get up, and a nurse can assist with this.

You will be able to start drinking clear fluids.

If you had pelvic surgery, you might be able to advance your diet more quickly.

Recovery

Your recovery depends on your pop in of laparoscopic surgery.

Even though laparoscopic surgery is minimally invasive, your wound and organs still need time to heal.

You will need to have a follow-up appointment with your surgeon.

Your healthcare provider will remove your sutures and drain and you might have imaging tests to monitor your healing.

Healing

During your post-operative healing period, you might have some pain.

it’s possible for you to use pain medication prescribed by your healthcare provider during this time.

you’re gonna wanna keep your wound and drain clean and dry.

Even though your incision or incisions are small, they need to be taken care of.

If you have a drain, you will need to empty your drain periodically.

Your surgeon will let you know what normal drainage looks like.

Constipation can occur after gastrointestinal surgery or as a side effect of opioid pain medications.

You may also have other problems, includingdifficulty sleeping, soreness, and tiredness.

Be sure to call your healthcare provider’s office if these issues don’t improve within a few weeks.

You will continue to need care for the condition that’s treated by laparoscopic surgery, however.

Your surgeon will advise you regarding the best surgical approach for optimizing your recovery in your specific situation.

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Published 2020 Jul 25. doi:10.1186/s12893-020-00824-6