Keyhole Surgery

Jai Ganesh · Today 15:37:54

Keyhole Surgery

Gist

Keyhole or minimally invasive surgery is a method of carrying out an operation without having to make a large incision. It is also known as laparoscopic surgery when used to operate on the abdomen and thoracoscopic surgery when used on the chest area.

Keyhole surgery, also known as laparoscopic or minimally invasive surgery, lets surgeons operate inside the body through tiny incisions (like keyholes) using a camera (laparoscope) and specialized instruments, avoiding large cuts for faster healing, less pain, and smaller scars compared to traditional open surgery. A camera transmits images to a screen, guiding the surgeon who uses long, thin tools inserted through separate small cuts to perform procedures in the abdomen, pelvis, joints, or chest.

Summary

Laparoscopy is an operation performed in the abdomen or pelvis using small incisions (usually 0.5–1.5 cm) with the aid of a camera. The laparoscope aids diagnosis or therapeutic interventions with a few small cuts in the abdomen.

Laparoscopic surgery, also called minimally invasive procedure, bandaid surgery, or keyhole surgery, is a modern surgical technique. There are a number of advantages to the patient with laparoscopic surgery versus an exploratory laparotomy. These include reduced pain due to smaller incisions, reduced hemorrhaging, and shorter recovery time. The key element is the use of a laparoscope, a long fiber optic cable system that allows viewing of the affected area by snaking the cable from a more distant, but more easily accessible location.

Laparoscopic surgery includes operations within the abdominal or pelvic cavities, whereas keyhole surgery performed on the thoracic or chest cavity is called thoracoscopic surgery. Specific surgical instruments used in laparoscopic surgery include obstetrical forceps, scissors, probes, dissectors, hooks, and retractors. Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery belong to the broader field of endoscopy. The first laparoscopic procedure was performed by German surgeon Georg Kelling in 1901.

Details

Laparoscopy is a type of keyhole surgery used to diagnose and treat conditions. It allows a surgeon to use only small cuts and a camera for procedures inside the tummy or pelvis.

Why a laparoscopy is done

A laparoscopy can be used to diagnose conditions such as appendicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis and some cancers, such as liver cancer and ovarian cancer.

It's also used for surgery to treat conditions, such as:

* removing organs such as the appendix or gallbladder
* repairing hernias or burst or bleeding stomach ulcers
* removing organs affected by cancer, such as the ovaries, prostate or liver
* treating an ectopic pregnancy
* removing the womb (hysterectomy) or fibroids
* weight loss surgery

A laparoscopy is often recommended because the recovery time is faster than other types of surgery.

Preparing for a laparoscopy

The hospital will give you information about how to prepare for a laparoscopy.

Depending on why you're having a laparoscopy, you may be asked to do certain things, such as:

* not eating or drinking
* stop taking certain medicines, such as anticoagulants
* stop smoking

You cannot drive after having a laparoscopy, so you'll need to organise for someone to drive you home.

What happens during a laparoscopy

If you're having a laparoscopy to diagnose a condition, it usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes. It'll be longer if you're having surgery to treat a condition.

A laparoscopy is done under general anaesthetic, so you'll be asleep during the operation and will not feel any pain.

1) The surgeon will make a small cut, usually near your belly button.
2) Air is pumped into your tummy through the cut so the surgeon can see inside your tummy more easily.
3) A thin, flexible tube with a camera inside (a laparoscope) is then put into the cut so video images of the inside of your tummy can be shown on a screen.
4) If you're having surgery, more small cuts may need to be made in your tummy for the surgeon to pass their tools through.
5) When it's finished, the air is let out of your tummy and the cuts are closed with stitches or clips, and a dressing is placed on top.

After the operation

You'll spend some time in the recovery room and have medicine to help with pain and swelling.

After the operation, you may:

* feel sick or be sick
* feel more tired than normal
* have a sore throat
* have bloating, cramps or pain and discomfort in your tummy
* get shoulder pain
* have bruises around your wounds

Most people can leave hospital either on the same day or the day after.

Recovering from a laparoscopy

How long it takes to recover from a laparoscopy varies.

It usually takes up to 10 days if you had it to diagnose a condition, but it may be up to 3 weeks before you can return to work. If you've had surgery, it can take up to 6 to 8 weeks to fully recover.

There are things you can do to help your recovery.

Do

* take paracetamol or ibuprofen to help with any pain
* make sure you drink lots of fluids and have a healthy diet
* wear compression stockings if you've been given some
* move around as much as you can
* do foot and leg exercises, such as moving your ankles in circles, while you're resting
* keep your wound dry for the first 24 hours – you can shower after this, but make sure the water is not too hot, as it can make the wounds bleed

Don’t

* do not have a bath for the first 2 weeks, or until the wound has healed
* do not drive for 48 hours or until you can do an emergency stop (but check with your insurer first)
* do not fly for 48 hours after having a laparoscopy
* do not drink alcohol for 48 hours
* do not smoke as it can take your body longer to heal

Possible complications of a laparoscopy

A laparoscopy is a common procedure.

Complications are rare, but can include:

* needing to have open surgery with a larger cut
* a hernia
* damage to an organ, such as your bladder
* damage to a blood vessel
* a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to the general anaesthetic
* blood clots, such as a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) or pulmonary embolism.

Additional Information

Laparoscopy is a procedure that permits visual examination of the abdominal cavity with an optical instrument called a laparoscope, which is inserted through a small incision made in the abdominal wall. The term comes from the Greek words laparo, meaning “flank,” and skopein, meaning “to examine.”

The laparoscope is a type of endoscope—i.e., a device similar to a small telescope that is equipped with a light source. Laparoscopy came into use early in the 20th century. It was first used as a means of diagnosing abdominal pain. By the 1960s gynecologists were using the laparoscope in operations such as tubal ligations. Modern laparoscopes have been fitted with fibre-optic lights and small video cameras that allow a surgical team to view the abdominal tissues and organs on a monitor in the operating room. These improvements have expanded the applications of laparoscopy. Today the technique is not only used to obtain diagnostic information but employed in a variety of surgeries, including removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy), appendectomy, hysterectomy, repair of hernias, and removal of cancerous tumours.

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure because it requires a much smaller incision than traditional surgery does, causing less damage to nerves, muscles, and skin. It can be performed with only local anesthesia and a mild sedative. To begin the procedure, carbon dioxide is pumped into the abdomen, thereby expanding the abdominal cavity to provide the physician with space to maneuver instruments. Next a small incision is made for the laparoscope. Additional tiny cuts can be made if surgical instruments such as forceps and scissors are needed in the procedure. Valuable diagnostic information can be obtained by examining a biopsy specimen of the liver or abdominal lesions. The benefits of laparoscopic surgery include a reduction in postoperative pain, brief recovery times, and shortened hospital stays.

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Keyhole Surgery

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