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Laparoscopic Surgery
Am I a candidate for Laparoscopic
Surgery?
Many procedures which were
traditionally done "open" (i.e., through a standard surgical
incision) can now be done laparoscopically ("minimally invasive
surgery"). Only after carefully reviewing your medical history and
examining you can the doctor determine if laparoscopic surgery is
appropriate in your case. The surgeons at MSA have extensive training
and experience in both "basic" and advanced laparoscopic
procedures including: gallbladder and bile duct surgery, inguinal and
ventral hernia repair, appendectomy, colon resection, fundoplication
(anti-reflux procedure for GERD), placement and revision of complicated
peritoneal dialysis catheters, liver biopsy, diagnostic laparoscopy and
more.
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Is it true that many patients have
shoulder pain from the inflation gas after laparoscopic surgery?
This was much more common early in
the laparoscopic experience. With improved techniques such as lower gas
pressures and warming and humidifcation of the gas, this side effect is
minimized.
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What happens if the procedure
cannot be completed laparoscopically or there are complications?
With increasing laparoscopic
experience, most difficulties can be managed without having to convert
to an "open" (traditional) approach. If the surgeon determines
that proceeding laparoscopically is unsafe or will require an inordinate
amount of time/anesthesia, an open approach will be taken. This will be
discussed with you prior to your surgery.
Is Laparoscopic Surgery the same
as Laser Surgery?
No. This is a common
misconception. The key to laparoscopic surgery is the use of very
small incisions and "ports" (tubes) through which a
scope/camera can be passed to visualize the internal organs and other
small instruments can be passed to perform the surgery. A Laser is a
method of using light energy to cut, coagulate or otherwise modify tissues and can
be used on the surface of the body or through laparoscopic ports. Early in the "laparoscopic era", a
laser was used for removal of the gallbladder; hence the confusion.
Other devices which are safer and require fewer technical precautions
are used today in place of the laser such as electrocautery and the
ultrasonic scalpel.
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