What is laparoscopy?
Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for examining the abdominal or pelvic area of a patient from the inside. A minor incision is made that enables the insertion of a slender tool called a laparoscope. It has a tiny video camera and light that help in examining and inspecting the inner organs.
The process is conducted using local anaesthesia and CO2 gas is used to lift the abdominal walls to make the inspection easy. The laparoscopy procedure is often used in determining the cause of infertility. It checks for endometriosis, pelvic adhesion or any tissue damage within the pelvic area.
Why is laparoscopy necessary?
Here are some of the reasons why laparoscopy might be necessary for examining internal organs:
- Injuries or tissue injuries
- Bleeding in the abdominal area
- Presence of tumours
- Infection
- Blockages
Laparoscopy is highly recommended for cases that involve painful sexual intercourse, extreme menstrual cramps, endometriosis, pelvic adhesion, or even for cases of prior ectopic pregnancy. At times, issues like pelvic infection or ruptured appendix also hinder the fertility process and in such cases, laparoscopy can be useful.
Often the laparoscopic process is conducted when X-ray or CT scan reports are not clear enough. It helps in checking for any abdominal injury or the presence of internal bleeding.
Laparoscopic surgery in women helps in eliminating issues causing their infertility. It helps in finding a range of conditions that might lead to female infertility such as the following:
- Hydrosalpinx (blocked fallopian tube)
- Endometrial deposit that causes pelvic pain
- Fibroids that might distort the uterine cavity
The laparoscopic ovarian drilling process is recommended for women suffering from PCOS. It involves making tiny holes in the blocked ovaries and improving the chances of fertility. Laparoscopic surgeries are also done for the treatment of endometriosis, which occurs when the tissues that line the uterus grow outside it.
What are the risk factors for a laparoscopy?
There are some complications and risks associated with undergoing the laparoscopy surgical process. As there is a small incision made for inserting the laparoscope, it might cause bleeding and even injury to the abdominal tissue or organs.
Here are some conditions in which laparoscopy is not advised:
- Cancerous growth within the abdominal wall
- Bleeding issues as well as low blood platelet count like thrombocytopenia
- Chronic tuberculosis
- Scar tissues within the pelvic or abdominal area
Here are the symptoms to watch for after the procedure:
- Fever or chills
- Abdominal pain that intensifies over time
- Swelling, bleeding or redness or discolouration
- Shortness of breath
- Painful urination
- Inflammation of the abdominal wall
- A blood clot that could travel to the pelvis, lungs or legs
In any case of complication, it is highly recommended to consult a doctor and seek immediate treatment or consultation.
What happens throughout a laparoscopy?
It is a minimally invasive technique and the patient can go home the same day after the surgical procedure is over. Here is what happens during the laparoscopic procedure:
- General anaesthesia is given for the procedure. It is mostly given through IV (Intravenous line) through the veins.
- During the procedure, the surgeon makes an incision below the belly button and a small tube called a cannula is inserted through the incision. It is used to pass CO2 which inflates the abdomen. It allows the surgeon to see the abdominal organs better.
- Once the abdominal area is inflated, the laparoscope is inserted through the incision. There is a small camera attached to the laparoscope that displays a real-time image of the internal organs on the screen.
- Usually, one to four incisions are made which are 1 to 2 cm in length. It allows easy insertion of the laparoscope. For a biopsy, a small tissue is also taken for evaluation.
- Once the procedure is over, the laparoscope is removed and the incision is closed. The incision is closed with stitches or surgical tape and bandaged. The recovery takes not more than a week.
After a laparoscopy, what happens?
Once the procedure is over, the patient is observed for a few hours before they are released from the hospital. The vitals like heart rate, breathing, pulse rate, blood pressure and any potential effect from anaesthesia are checked and monitored. The patient is also checked for any possible bleeding from the incision site.
You can request an appointment easily at Apollo Fertility, Banjara Hills, for a consultation by calling 1860 500 4424.
Once the surgery is over, the recovery takes not more than a day. All the vitals are checked and the patient is released the same day if everything is alright. However, it takes several hours for the effect of anaesthesia to wear off.
The process involves making a minor incision for the insertion of a laparoscope. The slender tool has a tiny camera that examines abdominal or pelvic areas. It checks for conditions like pelvic adhesion or endometriosis that are known for causing infertility.
The abdominal laparoscopic helps in examining a number of conditions like hernias, intestinal blockage, appendicitis, fibroids, cysts, cancer, cholecystitis, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease etc.
The method makes use of a laparoscope for examining the pelvic area for checking conditions like endometriosis or fibroids. It even includes ovarian cyst removal, tubal ligation, and hysterectomy.
There are some common risks like fever, chills, abdominal pain, swelling, bleeding, shortness of breath etc. It might also form a blood clot at times. However, for any complication, it is best to contact a doctor.
