Diagnostic Laparoscopy
What is it?
The laparoscopic or minimally invasive approach involves specialized video equipment and instruments that allow a surgeon to obtain information about the inside of your abdomen through several tiny incisions. The benefits of minimally invasive surgery, as opposed to the larger traditional incision, include a shorter hospital stay, a faster return to normal activity and less scaring. The most common situations that require diagnostic laparoscopy are:
- Abdominal pain. Diagnostic laparoscopy may be used to determine the cause of acute (sudden and severe) or chronic (less severe and over a long period of time) abdominal pain. Some possible diagnoses are appendicitis, adhesions or intra-abdominal scar tissue, hernias, pelvic infections, endometriosis, abdominal bleeding and less commonly, cancer. Often, the surgeon can identify the problem and even correct it during the same procedure.
- Abdominal mass. An abdominal mass (lump or tumor) or irregularity can sometimes be discovered by the patient, the doctor, or by a radiological exam (CT, MRI, etc.). When its nature cannot be determined by other means, diagnostic laparoscopy is often used to get a closer look at it and remove a small piece of it (biopsy). This tissue is then analyzed by a pathologist to make the diagnosis.
- Ascites. Ascites is a medical term for the presence of fluid in the abdomen. Diagnostic laparoscopy can be an effective tool for determining the origin of this fluid production.
- Cancer staging. After a diagnosis of cancer is made, diagnostic laparoscopy may be necessary to stage the cancer, which means accurately determining the status and extent of the disease. This information is used by the surgeons and oncologists to choose the optimal treatment, either surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
This information is not intended to replace a visit with your physician. If you have further questions, please call 614-293-3230.