Laparoscopic Surgery Laparoscopic, or minimally invasive, surgery involves the use of small cuts and special surgical instruments to perform procedures that traditionally require a large open incision. Several small cuts are made into the skin. In one cut, doctors place a tube through which a gas, such as carbon dioxide, can be passed into the body. The gas expands the body cavity and gives surgeons a better view and more room to work. A telescoping camera and long, tiny surgical instruments are passed through the remaining cuts.
Surgeons can reach many parts of the body through laparoscopy.
The procedure may be used for gallbladder problems, endometriosis, kidney problems, hernia repair, colon surgery, gastroesophageal reflux, esophageal cancer, and heart surgery. Since the surgeon uses smaller incisions, patients have less post-operative pain and a faster recovery. Infection rates also tend to be lower with laparoscopic surgery. One of the disadvantages of laparoscopic surgery is the loss of a three-dimensional view inside the body. Surgeons must rely on the flat two-dimensional images on the television monitor.