What is diagnostic laparoscopy?

Diagnostic laparoscopy involves the insertion of a thin camera-tipped instrument called a laparoscope through a small incision to examine a patient’s abdomen or pelvis (including fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, small and large bowels, appendix, liver and gallbladder). This is typically done to confirm the presence or absence of a problem when noninvasive tests prove inconclusive and helps the surgeon determine the proper course of treatment.

When is diagnostic laparoscopy necessary?

The procedure is often recommended when there is the suspected presence of endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, cancer, cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) or appendicitis. Diagnostic laparoscopy can detect a number of problems of the abdomen, including:

• Ovarian cysts
• Abnormal union of body surfaces
• Endometriosis
• Uterine fibroids
• Tumors
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Appendicitis
• Cholecystitis
• Metastatic cancer
• Signs of trauma

How is diagnostic laparoscopy performed?

The procedure may be done in a hospital or surgical center with local or general anesthesia. First, carbon dioxide gas is injected through a needle to create a work space; next, a tube called a trocar is inserted, and finally the laparoscope is inserted. If the surgeon requires the use of additional surgical instruments, other small incisions may be made.

Will there be pain after the procedure?

There may be throbbing or sensitivity at the incision site for a few hours following surgery. Shoulder pain is also possible, since the injected carbon dioxide may irritate nerves in the diaphragm that also run through the shoulder. An increased urge to urinate may be caused by carbon dioxide gas pressure on the bladder.

What are the risks?

Complications are rare but may inclucde organ puncture, intestinal leakage, bleeding, infection and the need to switch from laparoscopic to "open" surgery.

As technology improves, advanced laparoscopic techniques are now available for a wide range of surgical procedures, including most weight loss surgeries. Laparoscopy allows your doctor to achieve more accurate and effective results through minimally invasive techniques, offering many advantages to patients.

Traditional weight loss surgeries are often performed through large incisions in the abdomen that result in visible scarring, heavy bleeding and long recovery times. While patients are usually able to achieve the results they desire through this method, they do so by undergoing a major surgical procedure. Laparoscopic weight loss surgery allows patients to enjoy these same results without the accompanying side effects.

Laparoscopic surgery uses a long, thin tube with a camera at the end to help your doctor clearly visualize the targeted area during surgery. The camera and surgical instruments are inserted into the body through several tiny incisions that are carefully placed to minimize scarring and allow for easy concealment. These small incisions also decrease the amount of bleeding during surgery and reduce the risk of infection or other complications.

Laparoscopic techniques can be used for nearly any type of weight loss surgery, including gastric bypass, duodenal switch, sleeve gastrectomy and gastric banding. The amount, size and location of the incisions vary depending on each procedure, but are overall less invasive than traditional open surgeries. Laparoscopic surgery only requires a short hospital stay before patients are able to return home and slowly resume their regular activities.

While laparoscopic surgery can offer many advantages to patients, these procedures are not for everybody. It is important to weigh the benefits and risks of laparoscopic surgery with your doctor before deciding upon which surgery is right for you.

Located in the upper left abdomen, the spleen helps regulate the composition of the blood circulating through the body and also filters the blood of bacteria and old/damaged particles. Removal of the spleen -- called splenectomy -- is performed to treat a variety of diseases that affect the spleen and, in turn, the blood. Conditions that may require splenectomy are:

• Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) - Low platelet count, leading to poor clotting
• Hemolytic anemia - Excess breakdown of red blood cells requiring frequent transfusions
• Genetic conditions - Spherocytosis, sickle cell disease, thallassemia
• Lymphoma and leukemia - Cancers of the immune system
• Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen) - Excess filtering of platelets, leading to poor clotting
• Benign or malignant tumors - Disrupt organ function and may spread cancer cells to the rest of the body (metastasis)
• Infarction - Clot blocks blood flow to the spleen
• Aneurysm - Enlarged artery at risk of bursting

Compared with open surgery, laparoscopic splenectomy offers patients the following advantages:

• Less pain after surgery
• Shorter hospital stay
• Faster return to eating solid foods
• Faster return to normal activities
• Smaller scars

Whether the spleen can be removed laparoscopically depends on several factors, including the size of the spleen. If the spleen is only slightly too large, the surgeon may try to shrink it before surgery by restricting blood flow through the main artery that supplies the spleen.

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a small tube-like organ that is attached to the colon. The inflammation is caused by a blockage of the inside of the appendix, which causes pressure and problems with blood flow. This blockage is usually caused by feces or an injury to the abdomen.

Symptoms of appendicitis may include:

• Pain in the abdomen, focused in the lower right area
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Abdominal swelling
• Loss of appetite

Once the appendix becomes inflamed, it must be removed promptly through a surgical procedure known as an appendectomy. If left untreated, the appendix may rupture and lead to infection or an abscess. Since the appendix has no known function, removal does not cause any harm.

.Surgery may be performed traditionally through a small incision in the abdomen, or through laparoscopy, using three to four tiny incisions. An appendectomy is a common and safe procedure which most people recover from with no complications.