Laparoscopy
Encyclopedia
Laparoscopy is an operation performed in the abdomen
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...

 or pelvis through small incisions (usually 0.5–1.5 cm) with the aid of a camera. It can either be used to inspect and diagnose a condition or to perform surgery.

Types

There are two types of laparoscope: (1) a telescopic rod lens
Lens (optics)
A lens is an optical device with perfect or approximate axial symmetry which transmits and refracts light, converging or diverging the beam. A simple lens consists of a single optical element...

 system, that is usually connected to a video camera
Video camera
A video camera is a camera used for electronic motion picture acquisition, initially developed by the television industry but now common in other applications as well. The earliest video cameras were those of John Logie Baird, based on the electromechanical Nipkow disk and used by the BBC in...

 (single chip
Charge-coupled device
A charge-coupled device is a device for the movement of electrical charge, usually from within the device to an area where the charge can be manipulated, for example conversion into a digital value. This is achieved by "shifting" the signals between stages within the device one at a time...

 or three chip), or (2) a digital laparoscope where the charge-coupled device
Charge-coupled device
A charge-coupled device is a device for the movement of electrical charge, usually from within the device to an area where the charge can be manipulated, for example conversion into a digital value. This is achieved by "shifting" the signals between stages within the device one at a time...

 is placed at the end of the laparoscope, eliminating the rod lens system.

Surgery

The laparoscope allows doctors to perform both minor and complex surgeries with a few small cuts in the abdomen.

There are a number of advantages to the patient with laparoscopic surgery versus an open procedure. These include reduced pain due to smaller incisions and hemorrhaging, and shorter recovery time.

Gynecological diagnosis

In gynecology, diagnostic laparoscopy may be used to inspect the outside of the uterus
Uterus
The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species...

, ovaries and fallopian tubes, for example in the diagnosis female infertility
Female infertility
-Causes and factors:Causes or factors of female infertility can basically be classified regarding whether they are acquired or genetic, or strictly by location.-Acquired versus genetic:...

. Usually, there is one incision near the navel and a second near to the pubic hairline.

For gynecological diagnosis a special type of laparoscope can be used, called a fertiloscope
Fertiloscope
The Fertiloscope is a type of laparoscope, modified to make it suitable for trans-vaginal application, which is used in the diagnosis and treatment of female infertility....

. A fertiloscope is modified to make it suitable for trans-vaginal application.

A dye test may be performed to detect any blockage in the reproductive tract, wherein a dark blue dye is passed up through the cervix
Cervix
The cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal wall...

 and is followed with the laparoscope through its passage out into the fallopian tubes to the ovaries.

Pediatric laparoscopy

Although laparoscopy in adult age group is widely accepted, its advantages in pediatric age group is questioned. The benefits of laparoscopy appears to be diminished at a younger age. The efficacy of laparoscopy is inferior to open surgery in situations such as pyloromyotomy
Pyloromyotomy
Pyloromyotomy is a surgical procedure in which an incision is made in the longitudinal and circular muscles of the pylorus. It is used to treat hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. It is also known as Ramstedt's Operation, after Conrad Ramstedt who first performed the procedure in 1911....

 for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Although laparoscopic appendectomy results in less wounds than open surgery, the former is also associated with more intra-abdominal abscesses.
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