As a result, you often need to stay in hospital for some five to seven days and may require some six weeks of convalescence before you feel able to return to normal activities. In addition to the disruption this may cause to your family life and employment, open surgery also carries risks of adhesions and infection because of the exposure of body tissue to the external environment. Laparoscopic or keyhole surgery, eliminates the need for the large incision and is a safe and effective alternative to open surgery. Two or three other small incisions are made to create passageways for specially designed surgical instruments which help the doctor to carry out the same types of procedures as in open surgery. The benefits of keyhole surgery Because the incisions are much smaller, pain can be significantly reduced with less need for postoperative pain medication.
Less pain means shortened hospital stays and a faster recovery.
In many instances, this means recovering in the comfort of your own home with surrounding family members and friends, and being able to resume employment within a few weeks. In addition to the better cosmetic healing of smaller incisions, keyhole surgery also reduces the risk of adhesions and infection because tissues inside the abdomen are not directly exposed to the outside. Before surgery, your doctor will explain the condition which affects you and the likely outcome of non-treatment and treatment alternatives. Where surgery is the solution, the indication, the risks and benefits of surgical treatment will be discussed, in particular if your condition is suitable for keyhole surgery, and the ideal time within which your planned surgery should take place. You should take time to consider the recommendation and, if you wish ask for other expert opinions before making a decision to proceed.