Services
Laparoscopic
Surgery
Laparoscopy is often called “band-aid” or “belly-button” surgery because the doctor makes a small incision very close to the navel. After surgery, this relatively small opening can be closed with only one or two stitches that can be covered with a small bandage.
Definition
Laparoscopy is a type of diagnostic surgical procedure that your healthcare provider can use to look inside your body at your abdominal and reproductive organs. Laparoscopy uses a thin lighted tube that has a video camera. The tube is called a laparoscope. It is put into a tiny cut or incision in your belly. The video camera images can be seen on a computer screen.
Why The Procedure is Performed
Have you heard people talk about “minimally invasive” surgery? Laparoscopic surgery is one kind. Doctors first used it for gallbladder surgery and gynecology operations. Then it came in play for the intestines, liver, and other organs. Thanks to special instruments, your surgeon won’t have to reach into your body, either. That also means less cutting.
During laparoscopy, the doctor can observe and perform a variety of procedures on a woman’s reproductive organs (the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes). Since the surgeon uses instruments that fit into a narrow tube called a cannula, only a small incision is necessary.
When is Laparoscopic Surgery Used?
Laparoscopic surgery can be used to treat both complex and simple pelvic issues. The following are examples of types of procedures that can often be safely performed via laparoscopy:
Ovarian cystectomy (removal of ovarian cysts)
Permanent sterilization (removal of the Fallopian tubes)
Evaluation and removal of endometriosis
Myomectomy (removal of fibroids)
Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus)
Additional Resources
Learn more from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
