General, Laparoscopic Surgery
Laparoscopic or “minimally invasive” surgery is a specialised technique for performing surgery. In traditional “open” surgery the surgeon uses a single incision (around 2-3 inch) to enter into the abdomen. Laparoscopic surgery uses 1/4 to 1/2 inch incisions. This system allows the surgeon to perform the same operation as traditional surgery but with smaller incisions.
While the patient is sedated, around three to four small incisions about 1/4 to 1/2 inch each are made on the abdomen. Narrow tube-like instruments (trocars) are then inserted through the abdominal wall. A laparoscope (a tiny telescope) connected to a camera inserted through the trocar gives the surgeon a magnified view of the patient’s internal organs on a video monitor. The surgery is performed using long thin specialised instruments with very minimal tissue handling.
