Is laparoscopy a surgical procedure or diagnostic procedure?
Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure used for diagnosis as well as treatment of disease conditions.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Laparoscopic surgeries?
Laparoscopic procedures have a number of advantages, given the fact that they result in cosmetic or negligible scars, less post-operative pain, shorter hospital stay, early mobilization and resumption of daily activities, less internal scarring when the procedure is performed. As this method is minimally invasive, fewer adhesions are made and there is minimal tissue handling. It doesn’t really have too many disadvantages as such. Laparoscopy is a very popular method of diagnosis and surgery these days which it wouldn’t have been if there were disadvantages. Although it is slightly expensive than conventional open surgeries, it also depends on whether it is just diagnostic or the procedure is being used to treat a certain condition. What one should also take into consideration are the advantages it offers when compared to conventional surgical methods. Moreover, Doctors require having special surgical training and expertise in order to conduct a laparoscopic surgery.
Is laparoscopy painless or less pain?
Laparoscopic procedures are minimally invasive and the pain it causes is also very minimal. Laparoscopic procedures are performed under General Anesthesia which puts the patient to sleep. These procedures are associated with very less pain and with the advances being made in Laparoscopic procedures it will soon become almost painless.
Is it used to diagnose a cause that may lead to a disease?
Diagnostic laparoscopy is used by a doctor to look into the abdomen and pelvic cavity of a patient. It helps identify the cause of pain or a growth in the abdomen and pelvic area. This method is used when patients have some non-specific abdominal pain or in cases when routine diagnostic checks like x-ray or ultrasound results are unclear. Diagnostic laparoscopy is also sometimes used in accident cases to check if any abdominal injury has occurred. Diagnostic laparoscopy is also known as exploratory laparoscopy. This technique of diagnosis is used in cancer patients to check the stage of cancer. In such cases, treatments may differ depending on the diagnosis.
Are laparoscopic procedures also used in pregnant women? Please validate if yes or no.
With the acceptance of the procedure, new and improved surgical methods, greater expertise in this field, laparoscopic procedures are used in pregnant women, for the most common indications for surgery during pregnancy include adnexal masses, biliary disease, and appendicitis. Laparoscopy should be performed with the utmost care during pregnancy. It is definitely not advisable beyond 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Is there any time or case when laparoscopic procedures can’t be used, i.e. prior abdominal surgery or any such case?
There are definitely some situations when laparoscopic procedures can’t be used, like previous multiple surgeries where extensive bowel adhesions have been anticipated, patients who are in a state of shock and have very large pelvic mass.
What are the cases under Gynecology where laparoscopy is the choice of procedure?
Laparoscopic procedures have become a very common practice in today’s gynecologic field. Almost all gynecological procedures can be done laparoscopically, it is very commonly used in treating Endometriosis, ovarian cysts, removal of fibroids, treatment of ectopic pregnancy, removal of the uterus , investigation of cancer or removal of lymphs for a treatment of cancer and treatment of prolapse with mesh. The most deserving Gynaec procedures that are treated laparoscopically are diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, female sterilization which is a surgery on the fallopian tubes to prevent further pregnancy, removal of ovaries or womb and removal of adhesions (scar tissue).
Can laparoscopic procedures be used to treat women across age groups?
Laparoscopic surgeries are surely used in women across all age groups, the only difference being the technique and size of instruments.
Can laparoscopic gynecology use to treat any kind of infertility issues or disabilities?
Most definitely, laparoscopic surgeries are widely used to treat infertility issues. It is considered a standard method in exploring infertility. In fact, most clinicians recommend laparoscopic procedures as it is less invasive and scarring is minimal. Through these procedures, surgeons inspect the pelvic cavity to confirm that the fallopian tubes are fully healthy and open to ensure there is no complication or condition like pelvic adhesion, abnormalities in the uterus, endometriosis, and PCOS.
Can emergency operations be performed using this method? Is the time taken to conduct laparoscopic surgeries the same as that of conventional surgeries?
Most surgeries can be performed laparoscopically, including emergency surgeries because what happens during the surgery is the same in both conventional methods and laparoscopic methods, the difference lies in the technique used to operate. In certain cases of emergency like a removal of tubal pregnancies, removal of twisted ovaries with cysts, treatment of ruptured ovarian cysts, twisted fibroids with stalk, laparoscopy is the choice of procedure given the fact that it is minimally invasive, patient experiences less blood loss, the recovery time is rather quick etc.
When compared to conventional surgery, the time was taken to set up the place may be more in Laparoscopic procedures. The time taken to conduct laparoscopic surgeries varies depending on the type of the surgery. Some laparoscopic surgeries may take longer than other laparoscopic surgeries, wholly depending on the procedure.
Dr. Caroline Alphine
Specialist Obstetrics & Gynecology, Aster Hospital
News Source – Khaleej Times 
