Laparoscopic (minimally invasive method) is a special application area of the surgeon. Laparoscopy has begun to be used in the surgeries of women’s diseases in the past and has been used in biliary stomach, hernia, spleen, liver, stomach and intestine operations as well as developing technology. In the traditional open surgical technique, the surgeon had to make an incision covering the patient’s whole abdomen to reach inside the abdomen. Laparoscopic techniques can be completed with a few incisions (holes) (ports) of 0.5-1 cm in size. The cannulas inserted into the abdomen through the port sites are called trocar. Many tools specially developed for the camera and laparoscopic technique to see the abdomen from the trocar are advanced and the operations are completed in that way. In laparoscopic technique, abdominal cavity is inflated with carbon dioxide gas. In this way, the intraabdominal organs are removed from each other and a space is obtained in which a surgical operation can be performed. Images from the camera are transferred to the operating room for high-resolution video monitors. During the surgery, the surgeon follows the images from the monitor through the abdomen. This system allows the surgeon to perform many operations with conventional methods with much smaller incisions.
What Are the Advantages of Laparoscopic Surgery?
Compared to open surgery, patients have less pain, faster recovery and shorter hospital stay. In addition, surgery completed from small incisions has better cosmetic results.
WHICH OPERATIONS CAN BE OBTAINED BY LAPAROSCOPIC TECHNIQUE?
Digestive system cancers (large intestine, rectum, stomach, esophagus), inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis), gastro-esophageal reflux disease and gastric hernia operations, abdominal wall and inguinal hernias, rectal prolapse, spleen and some liver operations can be done with laparoscopic method. In the past, it was believed that cancer surgeries should not be done by laparoscopic method. But nowadays, many scientific studies show that laparoscopic technique reaches the same oncologic quality as open surgery. Laparoscopic technique is widely and safely used in the treatment of cancers originating from intra-abdominal organs in the world.
HOW SAFE IS LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY?
Laparoscopic technique is as safe as open surgery. The safety of laparoscopy is based on the experience of the practicing surgeon. In many intestinal operations, anesthesia-related bleeding and infectious complications can occur. This risk depends on the nature of the disease. In addition, the patient’s health status, general performance can cause complications. You should talk about any risks you may have with your surgeon before any surgery.