LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY

Laparoscopic surgery is a field of general surgery that uses laparoscopy for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure in which, through a small foramen in the abdomen, under general anesthesia, the surgeon inserts gas (carbon dioxide) and the abdominal walls are stretched and the abdomen inflates like a balloon. A thin tube 5 to 12 mm in diameter is then inserted, through which a special tool passes, the laparoscope containing a series of lenses connected to a cold light source and at one end applies a small camera connected to a screen or video recording system. While the abdomen is stretched 2 or 3 tubes (trocar) can enter different parts of the abdomen depending on the operation. Through these tubes the surgeon inserts tools and with special manipulations performs the surgery.

After many reflections, laparoscopic surgery has proven to be effective for the diagnosis and treatment of pathological conditions of the intra-abdominal organs even in oncology patients.

It has many advantages over conventional surgery such as shorter hospital stay and faster return to daily activities, less postoperative pain and better aesthetic results due to small incisions. Also postoperative complications such as infections, wound pyosis, postoperative hernias, chronic pain and adhesions are significantly less.

Laparoscopy is contraindicated in patients with severe heart failure or chronic pneumonopathy or retinal degeneration. Also extensive adhesions due to previous surgeries may make laparoscopy impossible.