Laparascopy

Laparoscopy is a surgery that uses a thin, lighted tube put through a cut (incision) in the belly to look at theabdominal organsor the female pelvic organs. Laparoscopyis used to find problems such ascysts, adhesions, fibroids, and infection. Tissue samples can be taken forbiopsythrough the tube (laparoscope).
In many cases laparoscopy can be done instead of laparotomy surgery that uses a larger incision in the belly. Laparoscopy can be less stressful and may have less problems and lower costs than laparotomy for minor surgeries. It can often be done without needing to stay overnight in the hospital.

Why It Is Done: Laparoscopy is done to:
Check for and possibly take out abnormal growths (such as tumors) in the belly or pelvis.
Check for and treat conditions such asendometriosis,ectopic pregnancy, orpelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Find conditions that can make it hard for a woman to become pregnant. These conditions include cysts, adhesions,fibroids, and infection. Laparoscopy may be done after initialinfertility testsdo not show the cause for theinfertility.
Do a biopsy.
See whethercancerin another area of the body has spread to the belly.
Check for damage to internal organs, such as thespleen, after an injury or accident.
Do atubal ligation.
Fix ahiatal herniaor aninguinal hernia. See a picture of aninguinal hernia.
Take out organs, such as theuterus, spleen, gallbladder (laparoscopic cholecystectomy), ovaries, orappendix (appendectomy). Partial removal (resection) of thecolonalso can be done.
Find the cause of sudden or ongoing pelvic pain.

How To Prepare
Tell your doctor if you:
Have allergies to any medicines, including anesthesia.
Have any bleeding problems or are taking any blood-thinning medicines, such as aspirin or warfarin (Coumadin).
Are or might be pregnant.

Before laparoscopy:
Follow the instructions exactly about when to stop eating and drinking, or your surgery may be canceled. If your doctor has instructed you to take your medicines on the day of surgery, please do so using only a sip of water.
Leave your jewelry at home. Any jewelry you wear will need to be taken off before the laparoscopy.
Remove your glasses, contacts, and dentures or a removable bridge before the laparoscopy. These will be given back to you as soon as you wake up after the surgery.
Arrange for someone to drive you home after the laparoscopy.
You may be asked to use anenemaseveral hours before or the day before the surgery to empty your colon.
The hospital or surgery center may send you instructions on how to get ready for your laparoscopy or a nurse may call you with instructions before your surgery.
You will be asked to sign a consent form before having laparoscopy.  Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have about the need for the surgery, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out themedical test information form.