Diagnostic Laparoscopy is a surgery done to look at the inside of the abdomen and pelvis. It is usually performed to detect problems or treat pre-existing issues. This can prevent the need for complicated surgery later. The procedure is performed to find the cause of pain or growth in the abdomen and pelvic area where X-ray or ultrasound results are not exact. It is sometimes done after an accident to check if an abdomen’s organs. Often, diagnostic laparoscopy is performed as treatment of cancer to see cancer spread. Treatment begins once the ailment is detected.
A diagnostic Laparoscopy is needed when you experience a long time of pain or abnormal tissue growth, or you’re suffering from some disease in the organs of your abdomen or pelvis.
Diagnostic Laparoscopy is performed to find the cause of pain or growth in the abdomen and pelvic area where X-ray or ultrasound results are not exact. It is sometimes done after an accident to check if an abdomen’s organ has been damaged. Often, diagnostic laparoscopy is performed as treatment of cancer to see if cancer has spread. Treatment begins once the ailment is detected.
The diagnostic procedure has a step-by-step procedure that you need to follow. It is relatively simple and requires some amount of patience only. Here are some of the steps:
It is done in a hospital or an outpatient surgery center. The amount of time it takes for a Laparoscopy depends on what the doctor finds while performing the surgery. Here are some steps which are usually part of the procedure.
Before any surgery, laparoscopy, or otherwise, one should expect to undergo several tests. Most of these tests are general tests to ensure that the patient can undergo surgery. Such tests usually include blood tests, urinalysis, electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG), and chest X-rays.
Furthermore, depending on what you’re undergoing surgery for, your doctor may order additional tests. For instance, if you’re undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy, you might also be required to undergo tests like pelvic ultrasounds and/or computerized pelvic tomography (CT). So, in addition to general tests, case-specific tests are also often necessary before laparoscopy.
Although laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure, there are certain things to keep in mind before undergoing a laparoscopy.
Once you are discharged and allowed to go home, it is imperative to take complete rest for the next few days and avoid strenuous work at all costs. You should not eat or drink anything heavy right after the operation, and you should avoid taking a shower for at least 24 hours. You should also take care of your dressing: if it is a traditional dressing, you can remove, clean, and reapply for dressing after 24 hours (but do consult your doctor about the same). If you have steri-strips over your wounds, do not remove them.
Before going into possible complications that might arise out of a laparoscopic procedure, it is essential to note that laparoscopy is a surgery method and not a type of surgery. Thus, the type of surgery has more bearing on what kind of complications might arise from an operation.
That being said, some general complications might arise out of the laparoscopic method, as with any surgery. While complications are fairly rare, the most common ones include bleeding from the incisions and infection possibility. Less common complications include injury to internal organs and damage to blood vessels.
However, you should not be too worried about complications because they are rare, and various studies have shown laparoscopy to be a well-tested, safe, and efficient surgical procedure.
As with any surgery, recovery time is dependent on individual cases. For instance, a laparoscopic diagnostic procedure, which does not involve corrective surgery, usually has a rapid recovery time. In contrast, if you’re undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy, a major surgical procedure, recovery may take up to 6-8 weeks. So recovery ultimately depends on why you’re undergoing surgery and what type of surgery you’re undergoing.
Further, recovery time also depends on complications: if complications do arise, recovery might take longer than usual. Therefore, it’s best to consult your doctor and your surgical team about your particular case and when you can expect to resume normal activities.
A laparoscopy cost depends on several factors, including region, choice of hospitals, and what surgery you’re undergoing. A mere diagnostic laparoscopy, for instance, usually costs significantly less than more complicated laparoscopic procedures.
In India, the cost of laparoscopic surgery varies to quite an extent across different cities. The price of a laparoscopic surgery might range from as low as Rs. 24,000 to as high as Rs. 6.8 lakh. So, before you try to estimate the cost, it is crucial to identify what kind of laparoscopic surgery you will undergo and then look for hospitals that offer that service.
As the discussion above reveals, there are many variables with laparoscopy. It is because laparoscopy is merely a surgery (and diagnosis). Therefore, factors such as cost, recovery time, potential complications, and so on largely depend on the type of surgery you’re undergoing and not necessarily the method. We hope that you get a broad idea of what laparoscopy entails, but it is always advisable to consult experts before you make any major decision to undergo surgery.