Putting It All Together

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to laparoscopy:

• Laparoscopy is surgery on the abdomen performed through very small incisions in the body. It is used to diagnose and treat many different conditions and diseases.

• Doctors perform laparoscopy with a pencil-thin instrument called a laparoscope. It has a strong light and a miniature camera that sends images of the surgery area to a video monitor above the operating table.

• Laparoscopy is called minimally invasive surgery because the incisions are so small. Common non-technical names for the procedure are belly button surgery and Band-Aid surgery.

• For minimally invasive operations on the abdomen, incisions may be only half an inch long, compared to four to six inches for traditional "open" surgery.

• Minimally invasive surgery has many advantages. Individuals remain in the hospital for a shorter period, experience less discomfort, heal quicker, and can return to daily activities faster than is possible with traditional "open surgery."