Diagnostic Laparoscopy – Purpose and Procedure

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DIAGNOSTIC LAPAROSCOPY Purpose and Procedure

• By Dr. Valeria Simone MD
• (Southlake General Surgery, Texas, USA)

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Overview

• Diagnostic laparoscopy is a technique to examine
  the reproductive organs and abdominal organs.
  This procedure helps in biopsies, such as the
  collection of tissue samples for tests and
  diagnosis of various medical disorders. A
  laparoscopy procedure is a safe surgical method
  with low risks.

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What is laparoscopy?

• According to Dr. Valeria Simone MD, an
  experienced board-certified general surgeon and
  expert in diagnostic laparoscopy at Southlake
  General Surgery, Texas, a laparoscopy procedure
  is a diagnostic surgical treatment, to examine
  the reproductive and abdominal organs in your
  body. This procedure is also used to collect
  sample tissues for analysis. A laparoscope is a
  small cylindrical tube with a camera on top
  inserted through a small incision in the abdomen
  to examine the organs. This will help the surgeon
  view inside the abdomen and examine organs such
  as
• Gallbladder - Liver
• Spleen - Stomach
• Pancreas - Uterus
• Ovaries - Fallopian Tubes
• If ultrasound and X-ray fail to reveal the
  underlying cause of a disease, your doctor may
  advise a laparoscopy. Your doctor may suggest a
  laparoscopy procedure to
• A tissue mass examination
• Check for fallopian tube obstruction or other
  infertility factors.
• Identify the source of any abdominal and pelvic
  pain.
• It verifies pelvic inflammatory disease or
  endometriosis.

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What should I do to get ready for a laparoscopy?

• An individual needs to adhere to the following
  guidelines prior to the hospital for a
  laparoscopy
• The night before your surgery, avoid eating,
  drinking (even water), and smoking after
  midnight.
• On the day for Laparoscopic Surgery, wear flat
  shoes. You may feel sleepy and struggle to walk
  due to the anesthesia effect.
• Remove all jewelry. (Wedding rings are
  permitted.) Nail paint must be removed before
  surgery.
• Put on comfortable clothing. After surgery, you
  can experience some cramping and abdominal
  soreness.

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What tests are usually performed prior to a
laparoscopy?

• Before your diagnostic laparoscopy, your doctor
  may need to perform a few tests and collect some
  medical information about your health. This
  includes
• Report from Pathology
• Lab tests
• Earlier X-rays from a different facility.
• Tissue samples
• Operative report
• Slides from Cytology
• Additionally, your doctor might request other
  tests, such as CT scan, Ultrasound, and MRI.

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In what way is laparoscopy performed?

• Diagnostic laparoscopy is performed on a patient
  who is unconscious and lying on their back in a
  posture that is slightly inclined, with their
  head lower than their feet. During surgery, you
  will be given general anesthesia to help keep you
  from feeling any pain and to relax your muscles.
• After that, a short incision is created close to
  the navel. After making this incision, the
  laparoscope will be put through it. Your abdomen
  will be expanded so the surgeon can more easily
  see your inside organs. The laparoscope can be
  fitted with surgical instruments, allowing for
  the removal of scar tissue and the collection of
  tissue samples.
• Your doctor may additionally create a second
  incision along the pubic hairline as part of the
  procedure. This incision creates a second
  aperture that can be used to insert instruments
  that are necessary for performing minor surgical
  procedures.
• In most cases, you will spend the first hour or
  so following surgery in a special room designated
  as a recovery area. After that, you will be
  transferred to an outpatient surgery unit to
  undergo further observation.
• Once you receive the instructions for your home
  recuperation, then you will be released from the
  hospital. After a laparoscopy, the typical
  recovery time for a patient is between three and
  four hours, once the doctor allows, you will be
  free to leave the hospital. For individuals who
  undergo this treatment, it is quite uncommon for
  them to require a bed in the hospital for the
  night.
• Between two and eight weeks after your
  laparoscopy, you will need to go back to your
  doctors office for follow-up appointments.
  Before you leave the hospital, you should check
  with your doctor about when your follow-up
  appointment will be.
• Before undergoing surgery, it is essential to be
  aware that you will be unable to drive for 24
  hours afterward. You must have a designated
  friend or a family member who can pick you up and
  be with you for the first 24 hours of your trip.

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Is laparoscopy a safe procedure to perform?

• In general, laparoscopy is a relatively risk-free
  procedure. It is one of the advantages of this
  process that your doctor will be able to provide
  a precise diagnosis of your problem. Three out of
  every 1,000 women who undergo the procedure
  experience difficulties. The following are a few
  examples of prospective issues
• Anesthesia-related issues.
• A blood clot could move to the heart or brain and
  can lead to a heart attack or stroke. It is
  extremely unlikely and rare.
• Infection.
• Injury to surrounding organs and blood veins.
• Bleeding.
• Abdominal wall inflammation.
• A blood clot could get into the bloodstream and
  cause clotting in the legs, pelvis, or lungs.
• Before your procedure, talk to your doctor about
  any doubts. Your doctor will be able to tell you
  about any possible risks and tell you how likely
  you are to have them.

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After a laparoscopy, what can you expect?

• Laparoscopy patients are usually able to return
  home within a few hours. Youll have to wait
  until the effects of the anesthesia have gone off
  and your doctor has confirmed that the treatment
  hasnt caused any complications for you. At home,
  youll rest and heal after your laparoscopy.

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How do I recover from a laparoscopic procedure at
home?

• It is important to note a couple of things when
  you are recuperating at home after a laparoscopy.
  These recommendations include the following
• After surgery, you are free to take a shower or a
  bath whenever you like.
• In the first 24 hours following surgery, refrain
  from consuming alcohol or operating a motor
  vehicle.
• The bandage can be taken off the day after
  surgery. Two to three days after surgery, the
  tape-like STERIS strips can be taken off.
• If your urine is green, dont worry about it.
  Its possible that a blue dye was used to see if
  your fallopian tubes were open during the
  procedure.
• Most people can go back to work three days after
  having surgery. If you require a doctors note
  excused from work, you can ask for one during
  your pre-operative appointment.

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Do laparoscopy procedures cause discomfort?

• Like many other surgical procedures, laparoscopy
  may result in some discomfort. These annoyances
  could include
• The possibility exists that youll feel a little
  queasy. The night before surgery, eat a light
  dinner. Tea, soup, toast, or crackers may help
  alleviate your stomach cramps.
• Your throat could be sore for a couple of days.
  Use a throat lozenge if youre experiencing a
  sore throat.
• There may be some discomfort in your neck,
  shoulder, and chest for 24 to 72 hours after
  surgery due to abdominal gas. You can use a
  heating pad, take a warm shower, or go for a walk
  to relieve stress.
• It is possible that following surgery, you will
  experience swelling in your abdominal region for
  many days. To alleviate the discomfort, you could
  try taking some acetaminophen.

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Can I anticipate vaginal bleeding following
laparoscopy?

• Up to one month after a laparoscopy, its usual
  to have vaginal bleeding. For many women, it
  takes 4 to 6 weeks after surgery before they may
  resume their regular menstrual cycle. Heavy
  bleeding and discomfort may occur when your
  regular period returns.
• Lets explore more Diagnostic Laparoscopy -
  Purpose and Procedure - Southlake General Surgery

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Appointment

• For more information on Laparoscopy, Laparoscopic
  Surgery, and Diagnostic Laparoscopy. You can
  contact our healthcare expert today at 1 (817)
  748-0200. You can also make an online
  appointment with us
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  Procedure - Southlake General Surgery

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76092
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