How Painful Is Laparoscopic Surgery

• 18/04/2024
• 0

Laparoscopic surgery, generally known as minimally invasive surgery, is a contemporary surgical technique. where operations in the abdomen or pelvic region are performed through small incisions using specialised instruments. The laparoscope is a long, thin tube equipped with a high-intensity light source and a high-definition camera at its tip. This instrument helps surgeons to obtain a clear real-time view.

Without making one large cut, they make a few small ones. Then, they insert (a tiny camera called) a laparoscope through one of the incisions. This camera sends images to a video monitor in the operating room, enabling the surgeon to view and perform the surgery. During laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon applies specialized instruments to carry out tasks such as cutting, suturing, and manipulating organs.

Why Laparoscopic surgery is performed?

Laparoscopic surgery is performed for a variety of reasons across different medical conditions. Some common reasons include:

• Laparoscopic surgery offers several advantages over traditional open surgery, including smaller incisions, reduced pain and scarring, shorter recovery times, and decreased risk of infection and complications. 
• It is commonly used to treat a wide range of abdominal and pelvic conditions, including gallbladder removal, appendectomy, hernia repair, and certain types of cancer surgery.
• It may also performed to take a biopsy or a sample of tissue, from a particular abdomen in the body
• It is performed by doctors to detect liver diseases, abdominal masses, or tumours, women’s infertility, cancer of internal organs, etc.

Is laparoscopic surgery painful?

Laparoscopic surgery is generally associated with less pain compared to traditional open surgery. This surgery is performed under general anaesthesia because this sufferer remains unconscious and will not feel any pain.

These procedures involve smaller incisions and less tissue trauma, resulting in reduced post-operative pain and a quicker recovery for many patients.

You’ll experience mild pain around the cuts (belly area) the doctor made (incisions) or in the shoulder caused by carbon dioxide gas. This gas is used to inflate the abdomen, creating space for surgeons to work. This inflation puts pressure on the diaphragm and irritates the nerves that are linked with the shoulder area, leading to referred pain in the shoulder. It can last for several days.

Note: Patients need to communicate any concerns or persistent pain with their healthcare providers, as they may recommend additional measures or medications to manage discomfort effectively. 

Key Benefits Of Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery offers several benefits compared to traditional open surgery. Some of the key benefits include:

1. This type of surgery often leads to faster recovery times and less scarring compared to traditional open surgery.
2. Shorter hospital stays, can lead to sooner discharge, cost savings, and reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections
3. This surgery involves small incisions resulting in less trauma to surrounding muscles and tissues

What are the risks of Laparoscopic surgery?

While laparoscopic surgery is generally considered safe and has many benefits, like any surgical procedure, it carries some risks. Some potential risks of laparoscopic surgery include:

1. Bleeding: There is a risk of bleeding during or after the surgery, which may require additional treatment or transfusion.
2. Organ or tissue damage: Instruments used during laparoscopic surgery can accidentally damage nearby organs or tissues. This risk is generally lower with experienced surgeons but is still a possibility.
3. Complications related to anaesthesia: Like any surgery, there is a risk of adverse reactions to anaesthesia, including allergic reactions, respiratory issues, or complications such as nausea and vomiting.
4. Blood clots and pain: There is a possibility of blood clotting in the veins of the legs or one can experience Shoulder pain, caused by the gas pumped into the abdominal cavity

Precautions of laparoscopic surgery

• Ensuring the patient is in optimal conditions for surgery, including assessing their overall health, any allergies, and medications they’re taking
• Comprehensive assessment of the patient’s medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests to identify potential risk factors
• Precise placement of surgical instruments to avoid any injury to the vital structures such as blood vessels, nerves, or internal organs
• Careful positioning of the patient on the operating table to prevent complications such as nerve injury or pressure 
• During laparoscopic surgery, carbon dioxide gas is used to inflate the abdomen to create a working space for the surgeon. Monitoring and controlling the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas is important to prevent complications such as hypercarbia and subcutaneous emphysema.

Hence, Laparoscopic surgery typically involves ensuring all instruments and materials are accounted for, closure of incisions and documenting the procedure accurately for the patient’s records. However, for expert advice, we recommend to consult the best laparoscopic surgeon in Chandigarh today!