HysterSisters Articles for Hysterectomy

SHARING IS CARING

Laparoscopy Basics

From the Treatment Alternatives Articles List

What is a laparoscopy?

A laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgery that allows your surgeon to look inside your abdominal and pelvic region. The surgery can be used for both diagnostic and treatment purposes.

Your laparoscopy will be done in a surgical facility under anesthesia. Depending on what all your surgeon plans, you could have an incision in your belly button, at your pubic bone, and on each hip. These incisions are usually no more than an inch in length and may be closed with glue, stitches, and/or Steri-Strips.

During the surgery, your surgeon will inflate your abdomen with carbon dioxide gas (CO2) to give him/her more room to see and work. He will then insert a laparoscope in one of the incisions which will magnify the area onto a video camera. Using the laparoscope, your surgeon will be able to view your pelvic organs, including your uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes, and may check other organs such as your gall bladder, appendix, and spleen. The surgery can allow your surgeon to check for several different conditions, including endometriosis, ovarian cysts, an ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disesase (PID), fibroids, adhesions, or a hernia.

During the laparoscopy, your surgeon may also treat certain medical issues that are found. To perform surgical procedures, additional tools would be inserted into one of the small incisions. Depending the skill of your surgeon, endometriosis, adhesions, and cysts can be removed. A tubal ligation, salpingectomy, and oophorectomy can also be done during a laparoscopy. Certain hernias could also be repaired. When necessary, an appendectomy can also be done. The length of your procedure will depend on what is done.

A laparoscopy is often done on an outpatient basis; however, if extensive work was done, you may need to stay at least one night in the hospital. You will need someone to drive you home, and recovery can last from a couple days to a week or two depending on what procedures were completed. Depending on what was done during your surgery, you may feel tender and sore for a few days. The anesthesia may also make you feel sleepy. Your doctor may prescribe pain medications or suggest over-the-counter acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). You could feel soreness near your incisions, as well as internal soreness if extensive work was done. Additionally, you may experience some shoulder pain from the CO2.

While a laparoscopy is fairly safe, it is still a surgery; thus, there are some risks involved. These include infection, anesthesia reactions, organ injury, internal bleeding, and incision problems. You should not experience fever, severe or worsening pain, heavy vaginal bleeding, fainting, or red, swollen, seeping incisions. If you experience any of those symptoms, call your doctor immediately.


This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support.



SHARING IS CARING

Do you have a question?

If you have a medical support question related to this article, come JOIN US in our HysterSisters Community Forums. You will receive helpful replies to your questions from our members. See you there!

HysterSisters Free Hysterectomy Booklet What 350,000 Women Know About Hysterectomy with pages of information, helpful tips and hints to prepare and recover from hysterectomy. Free download for members.

HysterSisters Articles

Diagnosis
Options to Hysterectomy
Treatment Alternatives
Pre-Op Hysterectomy
Post-Op Hysterectomy
Separate Surgeries
Hormone and Menopause
Intimacy after Hysterectomy
Pelvic Floor
Separate Surgeries
Fitness after Hysterectomy
GYN Cancer
Breast Health
Grief and Loss
Endometriosis
Uterine Fibroids
GYN Genetics
Hysterectomy Stories
Ask A Doctor

Find a Surgeon

heath miller, M.D. 4245 Roosevelt Way NE suite 4 seattle WA 98105 206-598-5500 ext 8	Ken Sinervo, M.D. 1140 Hammond Dr., Ste. F6220 Atlanta GA 30328 770-913-0001	Mark Richey, M.D. 1200 Airport Heights Ste 205 Anchorage AK 99508 9072724443
Jack Ayoub, M.D. 44035 Riverside Parkway Suite 435 Leesburg VA 20176 703.858.5599	Siobhan Kehoe, M.D. Gynecological Oncology Clinic - SW Med 2201 Inwood Road Suite 106 Dallas TX 75390 214-645-4673	Lori Warren, M.D. 3900 Kresge Way Suite 30 Louisville KY 40207 502-891-8700
Eve LaValley Willsey, M.D. 5821 Jameson Court Carmichael CA 95608 (916) 486-0411	Ellen Wilson, M.D. 5323 Harry Hines Blvd - Dept of OBGYN Dallas TX 75390 214-648-4747	Jenifer Burkhalter, M.D. 8170 Laguna Blvd #304 Elk Grove CA 95758 916-691-5996