The Department of Laparoscopy at St.Philomena's Hospital is commonly performed procedure to Investigate and some keyhole surgeries on abdominal and pelvic organs. A laparoscopy is an operation used to look inside your abdomen. A thin instrument called a laparoscope is inserted through a tiny cut under your belly button to help your doctor look, examine and operate (if needed) in your abdomen without making large cuts.

Laparoscopy is direct visualization of the abdominal and pelvic cavity by using a laparoscope. The laparoscope is a long thin instrument with a light source at its tip, to light up the inside of the abdomen or pelvis. Fiber optic fibers carry images from a lens, also at the tip of the instrument, to a video monitor, which the surgeon and other theatre staff can view in real time. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is put into the abdomen through a special needle that is inserted just below the navel. This gas helps to separate the organs inside the abdominal cavity, making it easier for the physician to see the reproductive organs during laparoscopy. The gas is removed at the end of the procedure.

A Laparoscopic Procedure Involves a patient undergoing a laparoscopic procedure will usually come to the hospital on the day of the procedure. Except in unusual cases, the laparoscopy will be done in an operating room with a general anesthetic. For that reason, the patient will need to be fasting after midnight the night before the procedure.

After the surgery, a patient spends 2-3 hours in the recovery room and then goes to a hospital room. Most patients undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy or hernia repair go home the same day. Some patients undergoing gallbladder surgery also go home the same day while other gallbladder patients will spend one night in the hospital after the surgery. Most patients undergoing surgery for reflux, splenectomy, or adrenalectomy will spend one night in the hospital. Other types of surgery, particularly laparoscopic surgery on the stomach or intestine will require a 2-4 day stay in the hospital. However, after discharge home, most patients find they feel better every day until they are fully recovered. Although some patients require no pain medication after going home, most patients require a few pain pills over the first 2-3 days at home.