Laparoscopy

What is a laparoscopy?

A laparoscopy is a procedure that allows your healthcare provider to look at the organs and tissues inside your belly or pelvis (the area below your belly and between the hips). These organs include the liver, intestines, gallbladder, appendix and, in women, the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. A laparoscope is a thin tube with a light and tiny camera. It is placed through a small cut, usually in the belly button. The camera shows a view of the abdominal organs on a TV monitor.

Laparoscopy may help your provider find and treat the cause of medical problems you may be having, such as:

• Pain, an abnormal lump, or fluid in your belly
• Appendicitis
• Liver disease
• Gallstones
• Trouble getting pregnant
• A possible tubal pregnancy
• Uterine or ovarian problems

How is a laparoscopy done?

Before the procedure:

• Your healthcare provider will ask you to sign a consent form for a laparoscopy. The consent form will state the reason you are having the procedure, what happens during the procedure, and what you may expect afterward.
• There is risk with every treatment or procedure. Talk to your healthcare provider for complete information about whether any of these risks apply to you:
  • Anesthesia problems
  • Bleeding
  • Blood clots
  • Infection
• Tell your healthcare provider if you have any food, medicine, or other allergies such as latex.
• Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any medicines, including nonprescription drugs, herbal remedies, or recreational or illegal drugs.
• You will have a small tube (IV catheter) inserted into a vein in your hand or arm. This will allow for medicine to be given directly into your blood and to give you fluids, if needed.

During the procedure:

• You may be given a sedative through your IV to help you to relax.
• You will be given medicines to prevent pain during your surgery. These may include:
  • Regional anesthesia, which numbs a large area of your body. Depending on the medicine, you may be awake or asleep during the procedure.
  • General anesthesia, which relaxes your muscles and puts you into a deep sleep. It also keeps you from remembering the operation. While you are asleep, you will have a tube in your throat to help you breath and to make sure you are getting enough oxygen. The tube may be removed before you wake up after the surgery.
• You may have a small tube (catheter) placed into your bladder to drain and measure urine.
• Your provider makes a small cut next to your bellybutton.
• Your belly will be inflated with carbon dioxide gas. This helps your healthcare provider see your organs better.
• Your provider puts the laparoscope through the cut. The laparoscope is used to look at the organs and tissues in your belly and to guide other tools.
• Your provider may put other tools through other small cuts in your belly.
• If an abnormal growth is found, a biopsy may be taken to help make a diagnosis. A biopsy is the removal of a small sample of tissue removed for testing. Your provider may also remove entire growth.
• Your provider may treat any other abnormal condition that is found during the procedure.
• When finished, your provider releases most of the gas through the tube of the laparoscope, removes the scope and other tools, and sews up the cuts.

After the procedure:

• You may stay in the hospital for a few hours or several days to recover, depending on your condition and what was done during the procedure.
• If you go home the same day as your procedure, someone must drive you home.
• If you stay in the hospital after your procedure:
  • You will be checked often by nursing staff.
  • Your blood oxygen level will be monitored by a sensor that is attached to your finger or earlobe.
  • Your heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature will be checked regularly.
  • Your surgical wound will be checked regularly.
  • For the first day or so after surgery, you may not be given anything to eat or drink. Then you will be allowed to have small amounts of water. If you can drink water without vomiting, you can have clear liquids and then some solid food until you are able to have your normal diet.
• Your healthcare provider will talk to you about what was found, what was done, and if anything else is needed.
• You may feel bloated or have a change in bowel habits for a few days.
• You may have some shoulder pain from the carbon dioxide gas used to expand your belly.
• Your provider may prescribe medicine to:
  • Treat pain
  • Treat or prevent an infection
  • Prevent side effects, such as nausea or constipation, from other treatments
  • Soften your bowel movement
• Your provider may recommend other types of therapy to help relieve pain, other symptoms, or side effects of treatment.

What can I do to help?

• You will need to tell your healthcare team if you have new or worsening:
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Shortness of breath
  • Abdominal cramps or pain or bloating
  • Swelling, redness, or pain in your legs
  • Diarrhea, constipation, or other intestinal problems
  • Redness, swelling, pain, warmth, or drainage from your surgical wound
  • Fever, chills, or muscle aches
• Ask questions about any medicine or treatment or information that you do not understand.

How long will I be in the hospital?

How long you stay in the hospital depends on many things, such as your general health, why you are in the hospital, and the treatment you need. The average amount of time to stay in the hospital is 3 to 6 days after the procedure. Talk with your provider about how long your stay may be.