A laparoscopy is a surgical procedure to look inside the belly or pelvis. A lighted tube with a camera on one end is used to look at the organs in your belly. This tool is called a laparoscope. Your provider puts it into the belly through a small cut near your belly button. The scope helps your provider see your organs on a TV monitor.
Sometimes one or more pieces of tissue are removed from inside your belly for lab tests. This is called a biopsy.
This procedure can help your healthcare provider make a more accurate diagnosis. Then your provider can suggest further treatment. Some problems may be diagnosed and treated surgically during this procedure.
Your stay at the hospital and the time needed to recover from a laparoscopy will depend on the extent of surgery done through the laparoscope, but recovery will be quicker than if you have open abdominal surgery. You will also have smaller incisions.
A laparoscopy allows your healthcare provider to look closely at organs and tissues in your abdomen or pelvis. It may help your provider find the cause of medical problems you may be having, such as:
Laparoscopy can be used for treatment as well as diagnosis. For example, your provider may remove abnormal tissues or organs during the procedure.
Instead of this procedure, other procedures may include:
You may choose not to have treatment. Ask your healthcare provider about your choices for treatment and the risks.
This procedure will be done at the hospital or a surgery center.
You will be given regional or general anesthesia to keep you from feeling pain during the procedure. Regional anesthesia numbs part of your body while you stay awake. General anesthesia relaxes your muscles and you will be asleep.
Your provider will make a small cut near your bellybutton. Your abdominal cavity will be inflated with carbon dioxide gas. This gives your healthcare provider more space to work in and a better view of the organs inside your belly or pelvis.
Your provider will put a laparoscope through the cut. Your provider may put other tools through other small cuts in your belly. The laparoscope is used to look at the abdominal organs and tissues and to guide other tools.
If an abnormal growth is found, your provider may take a sample of the growth (biopsy). Or your provider may remove all of the growth. Tissue that is removed will be sent to the lab to be examined under a microscope.
At the end of the procedure your provider will release most of the gas through the laparoscope, remove the scope and any other tools, and sew up the cuts.
The procedure may take as little as 30 minutes or as long as 2 hours or more, depending on what your provider does during the procedure.
After the procedure you may stay in a recovery area for at least a few hours or overnight, depending on what was done during the procedure. The anesthetic may cause sleepiness or grogginess for a while.
You may have some pain after the procedure. Your provider will give you instructions on how to treat any pain.
You may feel bloated or have constipation for a few days. Eating fruits and vegetables and drinking extra fluids may help you avoid constipation. If diet and extra fluids are not enough to avoid constipation, then your provider may recommend a stool softener or a laxative. Check with your provider if constipation is still problem.
Ask your healthcare provider:
Make sure you know when you should come back for a checkup.
Your healthcare provider will explain the procedure and any risks. Some possible risks include:
There is risk with every treatment or procedure. Ask your healthcare provider how these risks apply to you. Be sure to discuss any other questions or concerns that you may have.