Laparoscopy or laparoscopic surgery is a type of surgical procedure which allows the surgeon to access the inside of the abdomen (tummy) and the pelvis (the lower part of the trunk between the abdomen and thighs) without having to make very large incisions on the skin. This type of procedure is also known as keyhole surgery or minimally invasive surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery is associated with several advantages/benefits over the traditional open surgery.
While in an open procedure, one large abdominal incision is made to access the tissues and structures inside for examination and surgery, in a laparoscopic procedure only a very small incision of up to 1.5 cm in length is made on the abdomen. Surgery with a small cut is made possible by inflating the abdomen with carbon dioxide to expand the abdominal walls to enable the surgeon to have a clear view of the structures inside, as well as provide enough space to perform the surgery. A laparoscope (camera) is then inserted through the incision to visualize internal organs under magnification for better examination and precisely perform the surgery.
Two or three more small incisions are placed to provide access to other small instruments to perform the surgery. Sometimes, if required another 3-4cm incision is placed to remove the surgical specimen. Once the operation is completed then the carbon dioxide is expelled from the abdomen and the incisions are closed using absorbable sutures.
In the recent times, laparoscopic surgery is a frequently applied technique for a wide array of surgeries. Significant improvements or advancements in the field surgery is made possible by continuous extensive research and study which has resulted in the state-of-the-art instruments/equipment, scanning/imaging, and surgical techniques enabling high success rates in the laparoscopic surgical procedures and also making it more safer and feasible.
As the benefits of the laparoscopic surgery outweighs the traditional open surgery, patients and doctors alike, prefer laparoscopic surgery as the mode of treatment.
A common belief is that laparoscopic or minimal access surgeries are not safe in cancer. But, this is not true. The surgical procedure, extent of removal of tumor remains the same in both open and minimal access surgery. The only difference between the two is the external approach with respect to incision. Various studies have proven the safety of minimal access surgeries in cancer with equal oncologic outcomes as open surgery. Hence, MINIMAL ACCESS SURGERY IS SAFE IN CANCER SURGERIES, WHEN INDICATED.
With advanced technology and brilliant doctors, patients are getting better treatments. There is a multitude of new and advanced treatment methodologies which is ever changing. One such being the laparoscopic surgery, which provides an array of benefits to the patients. Some of the advantages of the laparoscopic procedure over the traditional open surgery are as listed below:
The abdominal wall consists of muscles which need to be cut in open surgery which results in more abdominal wall pain. While, the small incisions in minimal access surgery is associated with lesser pain due to minimal injury to muscles of abdominal wall. The smaller incision size reduces the risk of pain after surgery. When a large incision has been made, patients usually require long-term pain relief medications till the stitch-line heals. With laparoscopic surgery, the post-surgical wound is much smaller and the healing process is much faster and less painful requiring short-term medications. Laparoscopic surgery also makes way for lesser side effects from long term intake of the strong medications after the surgery as the wounds tend to heal faster. Patients experience lesser trauma and discomfort resulting in the intake of lesser pain medicine.
The smaller incision also leads to the formation of a significantly smaller scar after surgery. In cases where the surgical wound is larger, the scar tissue that forms is more likely to become infected as well as being more vulnerable to herniation, particularly in overweight and obese patients. Laparoscopic surgery thereby reduces the risk of infection, hernia as well as aesthetically the scar being smaller appears better.
The internal organ handling is minimal with laparoscopic surgery than open surgery, which results in faster recovery and return to normalcy.
The length of the hospital stay both preoperative and postoperative is significantly shorter with laparoscopic surgery, since healing is very quick. Depending on the patient’s condition, type of operation, most patients are given a same-day or next-day discharge and can return to their normal everyday lives much more quickly unlike as in an open surgery. Emotionally, as the hospital stay is short the home sickness or the hospital environment depressing the patient is lot lesser. In some instances, laparoscopic surgeries are done on an outpatient basis or with only an overnight stay.
As patients are able to mobilize faster after laparoscopic surgery, the complications commonly associated with prolonged bed rest like pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis, thrombotic events are less.
Other than above listed major medical benefits there are many other benefits of laparoscopic surgery.
Let’s look into it.
Normalcy in life, they are back to their normal routine quite fast enabling the patient to get up and walk around sooner and not be bedridden or dependent on others. With the patient being able to manage their own chores, depending on others for chores such as getting in and out of bed, going to toilet, bath assistance and etc., is reduced, providing a sense of independence and normalcy.
Physically active, as is the case with long incisions, patients usually have restricted activities, even after they go home, to prevent further complications such as developing a hernia at the incision site. In a laparoscopic surgery, hernia is a very rare occurrence. Even activities like exercise or lifting is usually a lot more earlier in laparoscopic surgery.
Aesthetically, in laparoscopic surgery, after the incisions have healed, the scars are almost invisible so patients do not have to feel conscious about their looks. Due to the small size of the scar it can very well be concealed if the need be.
Laparoscopic surgery, from the view of patient, has the advantages of avoiding large open wounds or incisions and thus decreasing pain, and discomfort. Patients tend to have fewer side effects from analgesia as less intake of analgesia is required. The use of fine instrument is prone to cause lesser tissue trauma and blood loss. All in all, laparoscopic surgery is a boon with multi-faceted benefits.
Laparoscopic surgery is the most preferred type of surgery. In the recent past there has been a steadfast change in the way the surgeries are performed because of the advanced technology. Many elective and emergency surgeries are also recently being performed laparoscopically. Laparoscopic surgeries are here to stay with both the patients and the doctors vouching for it. Laparoscopic surgery provides an overall wellness and ensures early return to normalcy for the patient at a shorter span. Laparoscopic surgery is increasingly becoming popular in the modern times due to its multi-dimensional benefits.
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