Laparoscopic Surgery

Though risk is involved in all surgeries, open surgeries with large incisions have particular disadvantages. These can include pain, longer recovery times and the added risk of infection. The surgeons at Southern Surgical Specialists offer the safe, less invasive option of laparoscopic surgery to patients requiring surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical method that involves smaller incisions, as opposed to the more common open surgery.

A laparoscope is tool with a fiber optic cable, a light and a small video camera at the end. One type of laparoscope has a telescopic rod lens, connected to a video camera, while a digital laparoscope places a small digital video camera at the end of the tool.

Laparoscopic procedures begin with small incisions made in the area being treated. Carbon dioxide gas is dispersed into the abdominal so that the abdominal wall can be moved away from the organ(s) being operated on. The laparoscope is then inserted in one of the small incisions and into the body, so that doctors can view inside the body through transmitted images and video. This tool allows surgeons to perform surgery with the benefit of less incisions, which is intended to reduce pain and the recovery period, in addition to giving surgeons increased control of the area being operated on.