Definition of Laparoscopy

Laparoscopy: A type of minimally invasive surgery in which a small incision (cut) is made in the abdominal wall through which an instrument called a laparoscope is inserted to permit structures within the abdomen and pelvis to be seen. The abdominal cavity is distended and made visible by the instillation of absorbable gas, typically, carbon dioxide. A diversity of tubes can be pushed through the same incision in the skin. Probes or other instruments can thus be introduced through the same opening. In this way, a number of surgical procedures can be performed without the need for a large surgical incision. Most patients receive general anesthesia during the procedure.

The advantages of laparoscopy include a shorter post-operative period with less pain. The avoidance of a large abdominal incision also decreases some of the post-op complications related to the heart and lungs. In addition, there is decreased mortality with some laparoscopic procedures, as compared to the old open surgical procedures.

Laparoscopy was long used by gynecologists for the diagnosis of diseases of the ovary and uterus. Removal of the gallbladder by laparoscopic techniques was introduced in the late 1980s. Fiberoptic instruments and video cameras now allow procedures on the smallest of structures and the use of laparoscopy has been extended to surgical procedures involving the appendix, colon, uterus, repair of hiatal hernias, and more.

Laparoscopy comes from two Greek words. The first is lapara, which means "the soft parts of the body between the rib margins and hips," or, more simply, the "flank or loin." The other Greek root is skopein, which means "to see or view or examine." Skopein has become -scope in English.