How Laparoscopy Is Changing Patient Recovery

Laparoscopic surgery is famous for offering a minimally invasive procedure that utilises a laparoscope. It can shorten your recovery time and reduce up to 42% chances of complications and infections. 

What is a laparoscopic surgery?

Laparoscopy, which is also known as “keyhole surgery”, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows doctors to examine the abdominal and pelvic organs. It involves making small incisions through which a laparoscope is inserted. This enables the surgeon to visualise the internal organs on a monitor and perform surgical procedures with greater precision and smaller incisions.  

How long does a laparoscopic surgery take to heal?

The time to recovery for a laparoscopy surgery may vary based on the procedure that has been done. Laparoscopic surgery in general has a shorter recovery than that of traditional open surgeries.

Diagnosis of a laparoscopy

Laparoscopy is used to diagnose various conditions, especially when other diagnostic tests are inconclusive. This can help identify the cause of abdominal or pelvic pain, tumours, infections or any other abnormalities.

Procedure for laparoscopy

Anaesthesia:

Laparoscopy is typically performed under general anaesthesia applied by the anaesthesia team, which means you will be asleep throughout the procedure and will not feel anything. Since every patient is different, the anaesthetist will tailor the plan for your anaesthetic as required. 

Incisions:

Once a patient is placed in the lithotomy position, small incisions (about half an inch or 1.25 centimetres) are made, typically below the belly button. You will usually be positioned once you are under anaesthesia. Positioning is performed carefully to limit the risk of nerve problems in the arms or legs.

Gas Inflation:

Carbon dioxide gas is pumped into the abdomen to create space for the laparoscope and improve visibility for the surgeon.

Laparoscope Insertion:

The laparoscope is inserted through one of the incisions to visualise the organs.

Surgical Instruments:

Other instruments may be inserted through additional small incisions to perform surgical procedures.

Visualisation:

The surgeon views the internal organs on a monitor and performs the necessary procedures.

Closure:

After the procedure is completed, the instruments are removed, the gas inside is released, and the incisions are closed with stitches or bandages.

Potential risks of laparoscopic surgeries

Bleeding: 

Most surgical procedures result in a small amount of bleeding. In some cases, bleeding could be heavier than expected. If heavy bleeding occurs, it is most commonly during the operation and may mean the surgery takes longer.

Infection: 

There is a chance of you developing a bladder infection if a urinary catheter is used for your surgery. It can develop a wound infection. Antibiotics are usually given during the operation to help reduce the risk of infection. 

Blood clots in your legs or lungs:

Thrombosis is the formation of a clot in a blood vessel, usually in the legs. In rare circumstances, part of the clot can break off and travel to the lungs.

Injury to other internal organs, such as your bladder, bowel, nearby blood vessels, or the ureter (tubes that drain the kidneys). Whenever surgery is performed on the organs of the pelvis, there is a small possibility of damage to these organs, so you have to be careful regarding it. 

Carbon dioxide gas becomes trapped in the skin or body wall. There is also a rare complication where carbon dioxide gas enters a blood vessel.

The benefits of the speed of laparoscopic surgery 

Getting the laparoscopic surgery healing process started quickly is a critical concern for everyone involved such as the patient, the surgical teams, healthcare providers and hospital administrators. 

For the patient, the laparoscopic surgery is extremely beneficial, especially when it includes less blood loss, smaller scars, less risk of infection, less trauma, potentially cheaper costs, less pain during your healing period and a quicker transition to you living your life to the fullest once again.

For the surgical teams and healthcare providers, quicker recovery means faster discharge and the ability to treat more patients while reducing risk and the number of difficult circumstances, such as infections that a patient faces. 

A laparoscopic surgery is extremely essential in the operating room, assisting in these benefits by giving the surgical team better sight, which also helps in the laparoscopic procedure being successful and does not need to shift to an open surgery.