Nature Of and Recovery from Laparoscopy

laparoscopic surgeon

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure conducted by a general & laparoscopic surgeon in Shahdara Delhi, to diagnose or treat problems in your pelvic or stomach region. They use a special tool referred to as a laparoscope. It is a thin and telescopic rod fitted with a camera at one end.

The surgeon will put a laparoscope via a small cut in the pelvis or belly measuring half or less than that of an inch. He may make up to 3 more incisions for inserting other surgical instruments so that they can view any issues within the body (diagnosis) and take corrective action (surgery).

The camera in the laparoscope helps project an image within the pelvis or belly on a monitor in a live fashion. Surgeons can guide the motions of their hands using such images.

Your doctor may recommend laparoscopy when other diagnostic tests fail to detect the cause behind your condition. They will also use this procedure to collect tissue (biopsy) to diagnose any issues.

Laparoscopy is a procedure that is minimally invasive but this does not imply that it is a minor one. Several procedures in the abdomen can be conducted as laparoscopic surgeries, but they are mostly serious procedures. It is your surgeon who can apprise you whether the surgery is major or minor, how to prepare and what kind of recovery you can expect.

Whether you are undergoing laparoscopy for a test to examine your internal organs or to remove any for correcting a problem, the doctor can predict roughly the process of recovery. From hernia repair, appendectomy, surgery of ovarian cysts, treatment of endometriosis to hysterectomy, etc., you can expect the following:

Nausea

  • The majority of laparoscopic procedures are conducted under the process of general anaesthesia, wherein the patient will be totally put to sleep.
  • The pain killers used, as well as the drugs for anaesthesia could be based on morphine. When the patient wakes up, she might feel nauseated, drowsy and lightheaded.
  • In case the procedure targets the bowels, the use of instruments to handle the bowel could result in the ‘sleeping off’ of the bowel for some time, that could also result in nausea.
  • As a result, the patient will be confined to the recovery room till the wearing off of the impact of the anaesthesia.
  • Patient may be also administered with anti-sickness injection or tablet such as Cyclizine or Metoclopramide in order to control the feeling of nausea.
  • In case the patient feels nauseated during the process of recovery, feel free to contact medical professionals so that they can administer an anti-sickness medicine.

Pain in the shoulders

  • During laparoscopy, around 2 to 3 litres of gas, like carbon dioxide, will be pumped into the abdomen for expanding and permitting space for manoeuvring the laparoscope.
  • Following laparoscopy, such gas travels up and stays beneath your diaphragm while you walk, stand up or sit. It irritates the diaphragm causing shoulder pain. Such pain is usually worse after a day following surgery and might last for additional two to three days before it is absorbed and expelled from the body.
  • This pain is very common during recovery from laparoscopy.
  • To alleviate this pain, the patient may be administered basic pain killers such as paracetamol or peppermint oil or be made to lie flat.
  • In rare cases, blood beneath the diaphragm following a laparoscopic procedure might cause shoulder pain.

Bloating and cramps or pain in the abdomen

  • During recovery from laparoscopy, it is quite common to experience pain in the small cuts made in the abdomen where the laparoscope was inserted. The worst pain is felt near the wound or the belly button.
  • There might also be abdominal cramps, particularly if the procedure impacted the bowels.
  • Any such pains may disappear within 2 to 3 days, especially after using painkillers.
  • In case the patient develops excruciating abdominal pain after this procedure, it is best to apprise the doctor.
  • Pain around the site of the wound made for incisions after five to seven days is usually caused by an infection. It is good to seek medical help for this condition.
  • The pumping in of gas during the procedure can also result in bloating, that will last for a few days. Peppermint oil is good for alleviating this.

Diet and eating

  • Following laparoscopy, the patient can resume eating within four to six hours, mostly if there is no cutting and stitching of bowels involved.
  • In case the procedure involves resection of the bowels, most patients can take sips of water the same day and a liquid diet by day two or a solid diet after day three if there is no nausea.
  • The most suitable diet after this procedure is a balanced diet. There is no need to cut on carbs, proteins or fat.
  • During recovery time, it is best to avoid too oily or too spicy food and follow the instructions of best laparoscopic surgeon Shahdara.

Returning home

  • Majority of such procedures are conducted as day procedures, and the patient can go home after six to eight hours, following the procedure.
  • In case this is not possible, because of the complications of your test or surgery, patient can still return home the next day.
  • In case patient is in severe pain or has bleeding or fever, he must not return home without consulting the doctor.

In sum, by following the above tips, a patient can return back to good health very soon. If you still experience complications related to the procedure, it is wise to revert back to a medical professional.