How Laparoscopy Works: Tools & Techniques

A laparoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure your surgery does to look for problems in your stomach or pelvic area. They use a tool called a laparoscope, which is a thin, telescopic rod with a video camera on the end. Your surgery puts the laparoscope through a small cut (incision) in your belly (abdomen) measuring half an inch or less. surgery may make up to three more cuts to insert other surgical instruments so they can see all the organs in your belly and find any problems.

The laparoscope camera projects an image of the inside of your belly or pelvis onto a monitor in real time. Using these images, surgery can watch their hand motions during the procedure.

What is the difference between laparoscopy and laparoscopic surgery?

Laparoscopic surgery is similar to a laparoscopy. But instead of looking for medical problems, your healthcare provider uses a laparoscope and surgical instruments to operate on your internal organs. People often use the terms interchangeably.

Healthcare providers use laparoscopies for many common surgeries. More complicated conditions may require traditional “open” surgery through a larger incision. But healthcare providers prefer laparoscopic surgery for a growing list of everyday operations because it costs less and improves surgical outcomes.