What is a laparoscopy, (also known as coelioscopy)?
Coelioscopy is a surgical procedure for exploring the abdominal and pelvic cavities. The surgeon inserts an endoscope with a camera that enables viewing inside the abdomen and the surgeon can perform some surgical procedures with the aid of the endoscopic camera. There is no need to open up the muscular wall of the abdomen as the surgeon proceeds through a small incision in the abdomen, which explains the term of laparoscopy (lapara meaning side and scopeo meaning to see).
A small incision is made close to the navel through which the surgeon inserts a camera (optic fiber or an endoscope connected to a camera that enables the surgeon to explore the abdomen).
The abdominal and pelvic cavityare then “inflated” with gas (CO2) to improve the visibility of the organs.
In case of a surgical laparoscopy (when a surgical procedure is performed), two (or three) other incisions are made above the pubis (cf. schema) in order to insert the surgical instruments required for the procedure.
This procedure is performed under general anesthesia (see anaesthesia level 3), and the duration depends on the type of procedure.
Scarring after a laparoscopy
