Laparoscopic surgery is a surgical technique in which short, thin tubes (trocars) are inserted into the abdomen through small incisions (less than one centimeter). Through these trocars, long, narrow instruments are introduced, which the surgeon uses to manipulate, cut, and stitch tissues.
Compared to traditional open surgery, patients experience less pain, have a shorter recovery period, and there is less scarring with laparoscopic surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery uses several incisions of 0.5 to 1 cm. Each incision is called a “port.” A tubular instrument known as a trocar is inserted into each port. During the procedure, specialized instruments and a special camera called a laparoscope are passed through the trocars.
At the start of the procedure, the abdomen is inflated with a gas called carbon dioxide to provide the surgeon with a working space and better visibility. The laparoscope transmits images of the abdominal cavity to high-resolution video monitors in the operating room. During the operation, the surgeon views detailed images of the abdomen on the monitor. The system allows the surgeon to perform the same operations as in traditional surgery but with smaller incisions. In certain cases, the surgeon may choose to use a special type of port that is large enough to insert a hand. When a hand port is used, the surgical technique is referred to as “hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery.” The incision required for a hand port is larger than the other laparoscopic incisions but is usually smaller than the incision for traditional surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery is as safe as traditional open surgery. When starting a laparoscopic procedure, the laparoscope is inserted through a small incision near the belly button. The surgeon first inspects the abdomen to determine if it is safe to proceed with laparoscopic surgery. If there is significant inflammation or if the surgeon encounters other factors that prevent clear visualization of the structures, a larger incision may be necessary to complete the surgery safely.