What is laparoscopic surgery?

A laparoscope is a long thin tube with a high-intensity light and a high-resolution camera at the end. Surgery done laparoscopically is preferred over open surgery for a number of reasons, and thus Dr Muthmabi will choose to perform your surgery laparoscopically if possible.

How is laparoscopic surgery done?

Once under general anaesthesia, a laparoscope, which is a narrow tube with a camera will be inserted through a small incision to view the internal organs on a screen. Through other thin tubes, narrow tools are added to perform the surgery. The small incisions are then closed with absorbable stitches or skin staples.

How long will I be in the hospital afterwards?

How soon you will be discharged from hospital depends on whether you are able to drink liquids when waking up, how much pain you have and whether you have someone to look after you at home. Most patients are able to go home within two days of laparoscopic surgery depending on how severe the surgery, complications that may have occurred and recovery.

Why is surgery done laparoscopically?

Instead of a large incision made during open surgery, laparoscopic surgery involves the use of tiny tubes for the laparoscope and surgical tools to be inserted through small puncture-like incisions. The benefits of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery include:

• Smaller incision
• Quicker recovery time
• Less time in the hospital
• Smaller scars
• Less pain and scarring after surgery
• Less internal scar tissue

What kinds of surgeries can be done laparoscopically by Dr Muthambi?

• Gallbladder (known as a cholecystectomy surgery)
• Appendix (an appendectomy)
• An inguinal and umbilical hernia repair
• Surgical treatment for benign as well as malignant diseases of the liver, pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts (also known as Hepatobiliary (HPB) Surgery)
• Small and large intestine
• Stomach
• Pelvic and reproductive organs

Laparoscopic surgery may also be used to identify and diagnose fluid in the abdominal cavity, liver disease, the effectiveness of a treatment, or look for an abdominal mass or tumour.

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