Laparoscopy in United States

Laparoscopy is performed under general anesthetic. During the surgery, your surgeon makes small incisions in your abdomen to insert an instrument called a laparoscope, small surgical tools, as well as a tube to pump gas into the abdomen. A laparoscope is a small tube with a camera and a light attached to its end and the camera sends images of the inside of the abdomen to a monitor.

You may be able to go back to your hotel immediately after a laparoscopy, but in some cases, you may need to stay for at least 1 to 2 days. You may be able to fly back home within 3 to 7 days after the surgery. During your stay, you will have to attend hospital check-ups and to rest. 

The recovery period for laparoscopic surgery depends on the type of treatment. However, the overall recovery period is shorter than the traditional surgery. For example, the total recovery period for intestinal surgery with traditional methods may take 4 to 8 weeks, but with laparoscopic surgery, you only need 2 to 3 weeks to recover and return to work.

The aftercare will be different from one person to another, depending on what type of condition the surgery is used for. Your surgeon will tell you how to keep your wounds clean, the diet you will need to follow, and the type of exercise you can do. You will likely have a follow-up check-up with your local doctor to monitor your condition.

Laparoscopy is known to have a high success rate. Serious side effects, risks, and complications are rare. Minor complications occur in 1 out of every 100 cases, while serious complications occur in 1 out of every 1,000 cases. The side effects and risks include infection, minor bleeding, damage to an organ, or damage to a major artery.

Laparoscopic surgery is an alternative to traditional open surgery. You can always undergo open surgery if you prefer to do so. There are also some treatment alternatives to laparoscopic surgery, but this depends on the condition you want to treat.