Currently, medical science and technology are advancing rapidly. We can screen and detect various diseases through endoscopy, which is an effective method for screening and monitoring cancer. If a disease is found, it can be immediately treated simultaneously with “laparoscopic surgery.”
Getting to Know Laparoscopic Surgery for Abdominal Diseases
Laparoscopic surgery, or minimally invasive surgery, is a surgical technique that involves making small incisions to insert instruments and a camera to operate in areas that would otherwise require large incisions. This allows patients to recover faster and have a better quality of life. Examples include gallbladder surgery, appendectomy for inflamed appendix, removal of cysts or ovarian tumors, removal of uterine fibroids, hysterectomy, removal of liver tumors, pancreas surgery, and more. At the same time, laparoscopic surgery can also treat complex abdominal diseases, such as bowel resection and anastomosis for colorectal cancer, liver cancer, bowel obstruction, and bile duct surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery can reduce problems or complications after surgery, such as bloating, slow eating, difficulty moving or walking, wound separation, and the formation of adhesions or bowel obstruction, which are long-term issues. Additionally, the advantages of laparoscopic surgery include less trauma to internal organs compared to open abdominal surgery. Postoperative pain is less than with open surgery because the incisions are much smaller. Recovery is therefore faster, hospital stays are shorter, and patients can return to work or daily activities sooner.
6 Benefits of Laparoscopic Surgery Compared to Conventional Surgery
- Small surgical incisions approximately 0.5-1.0 centimeters
- Less wound pain due to less surgical trauma
- Shorter recovery time; can return to work or daily activities within 5-10 days
- Lower chance of adhesions compared to open abdominal surgery
- Hospital stay of only 1-2 days
- Fewer complications from the surgical wound than open surgery, such as wound infection, wound separation, and abscess formation
However, laparoscopic surgery for abdominal diseases does have some limitations, such as being unable to treat certain conditions like severe abdominal adhesions that prevent the insertion of the camera. Surgeons must also undergo specialized training and learn to use these instruments and technologies, which increases the cost of treatment.
What Abdominal Diseases Can Be Treated with Laparoscopic Surgery?
- Gallbladder surgery for gallstones and cholecystitis
- Appendectomy for appendicitis, abscess, or ruptured appendix
- Hernia surgery including inguinal hernia, diaphragmatic hernia, and abdominal wall hernia
- Surgery of the small and large intestines for tumors, cancer, and bowel obstruction caused by adhesions
- Adrenal gland surgery for tumors
- Stomach surgery for tumors, stomach cancer, and acid reflux
- Spleen surgery for abscesses and splenomegaly due to blood diseases
- Liver surgery for tumors, pancreas surgery for tumors and pancreatitis
- Liver cancer surgery
- Colon cancer surgery
