Fertility Centre
Patient information
LAPAROSCOPY
What is a laparoscopy?
Laparoscopy is a procedure to look inside your abdomen by using a laparoscope. A laparoscope is
like a thin telescope with a light source.
A small incision is made in the abdominal wall and a laparoscope is passed through it into the
abdomen. A laparoscope is a thin, bendy microscope with a light on the end. It can be used to look
at the abdominal organs, take tissue samples (biopsy) and even carry out small operations (this is
known as keyhole surgery). The images seen by the laparoscope are played on a television
monitor so that doctors and nurses can see what's happening in real time.
A laparoscopy may be done to find the cause of symptoms such as abdominal pain, pelvic pain, or
swelling of the abdomen or pelvic region. It may also help to find a cause of infertility or, it may be
done if a previous test such as an x-ray or scan has identified a problem within the abdomen or
pelvis. A laparoscopy enables a doctor to see clearly inside your abdomen. Some common
conditions which can be seen by laparoscopy include:
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Infertility
Endometriosis
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Pelvic pain
Ectopic pregnancy
Ovarian cysts
How is it performed?
A laparoscopy is a fairly short operation. It's normally carried out while you are under general
anaesthetic, which means you're unconscious for the whole procedure.
While you are under anaesthetic, a catheter (small flexible tube) is passed through the urethra
(urine tube) into your bladder. This is used to keep the bladder empty during the operation so it is
out of the way.
For the operation itself, a small incision is made just above or below your belly button. A hollow
needle is put into this cut, and carbon dioxide gas is pumped into your abdomen. The gas is
harmless - it's used to slightly inflate the abdominal wall and separate the organs so they can be
seen more easily. A second cut in the abdomen is then made, through which the laparoscope is
gently pushed. The position of the cut depends on what's being done - for example - women
having a gynaecological investigation will usually have the incision below the belly button. If you
had a large cut on your abdomen, the incision may be under the left rib (Palmer point) to avoid
injury to the bowel .The images the laparoscope records are played on a television monitor in the
operating theatre.
If the laparoscopy is done as part of another surgical procedure, (such as removing the cyst in the
ovary or the fallopian tube) then one or more further incisions will be made in your abdomen. Small
surgical instruments can be pushed through these cuts and the surgeon guides them into the right
place using the view from the laparoscope. Once in place, the instruments can be used to carry out
minor surgery inside the abdomen.
Authorised

Anil Gudi
What is laparoscopy
Date
10/01/2014
Version no/date
Next review
V3
10/01/2015
Page 1 of 4
Fertility Centre
Patient information
LAPAROSCOPY
After the operation, the gas is let out of your abdomen and the small cuts are sewn up.
Laparoscopy is normally carried out as an outpatient appointment. This means you don't have to
stay in hospital overnight and you should be able to return to school, college or work after a couple
of days. In some cases, you may have to stay in hospital for a night or two - it depends on the
exact procedure being carried out.
Please make sure that you do not have unprotected intercourse in the menstrual cycle,
starting from 1st day of period till the date the operation is planned, to avoid the chance of
being pregnant at the time of operation. If you are concerned that you may be pregnant,
please let the medical team know, as soon as possible prior to the operation.
After a laparoscopy?
You may feel a little sore around the incisions. You may have some pain in your shoulder tip. This
is caused by the gas which had been pumped inside irritating the diaphragm which has the same
nerve supply as the shoulder tip. This pain soon passes off. The length of time to recover can vary,
depending on why the procedure was done and what operations were performed.
Are there any possible complications from a laparoscopy?
There may be some minor bleeding or bruising around the skin incisions. Otherwise, in most cases
a laparoscopy to just 'look inside' goes without any problem. Possible problems which may occur
include the following.
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Accidental damage to structures inside the abdomen such as the intestines, bladder or
blood vessels. This is uncommon, but if it occurs an emergency traditional operation may
be needed to correct the damage.
As with any operation, there is a small risk of complications of anaesthesia.
Occasionally, the incision becomes infected which may require a course of antibiotics.
If you have laparoscopic surgery, the risk of complications may increase, depending on what
operation is performed. Occasionally the surgeon may need to convert the operation to an open
laparotomy, which involves making a larger incision in the abdomen. This can happen if the
operation can't be carried out properly or safely using the laparoscope and the surgeon needs a
better view and more direct access to the organs. It happens in about 3-5% of operations.
Recovery
After a laparoscopy, it's normal to feel some pain and discomfort around the cuts in your abdomen
- this will get better after a couple of days. You may feel some pain in you shoulders. This is
because the nerves that supply the shoulders also supply the diaphragm, the breathing muscle in
your chest. Sometimes the diaphragm can get irritated or stretched during surgery, which is why
you feel pain in your shoulders. The hospital staff treating you will advise you about what
painkillers to take if you need them.
Your abdomen may also feel uncomfortable for a day or two afterwards, which happens if there is
any carbon dioxide gas remaining. The gas is gradually absorbed by the abdomen lining. You may
also feel the need to urinate more often because the gas puts increased pressure on the bladder.
Before you go home the hospital staff will advise you how to keep the wounds clean and when to
come back for a follow-up appointment or to have stitches removed.
Authorised

Anil Gudi
What is laparoscopy
Date
10/01/2014
Version no/date
Next review
V3
10/01/2015
Page 2 of 4
Fertility Centre
Patient information
LAPAROSCOPY
If you go home the same day, it's a good idea to have somebody with you for the first 24 hours
after the operation, just in case you experience any problems, such as fever, chills, vomiting or
severe pain. It's important to contact your doctor straightaway if this happens.
It takes a few days to recover from a diagnostic laparoscopy and up to 12 weeks if surgery has
also been carried out. Follow your surgeon's advice about physical activity, rest and returning to
work.
Your wound will probably have dissolvable stitches. Although these do not need removing, it is
recommended that you to have your wound checked by the Practice Nurse after 4 or 5 days. The
nurse will give you a letter for the Practice Nurse before you are discharged from the Unit. The
wound should be left uncovered, if it is dry, and you will be given advice you about your wound
care before you go home. If necessary, the nurse will arrange for a district nurse to visit you after
your discharge home. If you have had a dye test, you should wear a sanitary towel to protect your
clothing from the discharge of the blue
Advantages
Laparoscopy is a form of keyhole surgery. It allows doctors to look inside the body in a way that is
less invasive and has fewer side effects than traditional surgery. Because only small cuts need to
be made, the scars following laparoscopy are much smaller, and there is less pain following the
procedure. For most people, this also means a faster recovery time, and most are able to leave
hospital on the same day.
Laparoscopy and dye test
A ‘lap &dye’ test involves the injection of dye up through the neck of the womb using a fine tube.
Via the laparoscope, it is possible to observe the flow of the dye out of the ends of the Fallopian
tubes, if they are clear. These tubes carry the eggs from the ovary to the womb, to be fertilized. If
they are blocked, no dye is seen. If you are having a ‘lap & dye’ test, it is important that you are not
menstruating at the time of your operation. If you think your period may be due on the day of
surgery, please contact the secretary.
Laparoscopic adhesiolysis
The only way to treat adhesions is to remove or separate them through surgery. This procedure is
called adhesiolysis (ad-he-ze-o-li-sis). Studies have shown that patients with pelvic pain and
severe adhesions can experience a marked reduction in symptoms after laparoscopic adhesiolysis.
In addition, infertility due to pelvic adhesions can be successfully treated by adhesiolysis in
approximately 40-60% of patients. However, one of the reasons adhesions are so problematic is
that, adhesion prevention is vital.
Authorised

Anil Gudi
What is laparoscopy
Date
10/01/2014
Version no/date
Next review
V3
10/01/2015
Page 3 of 4
Fertility Centre
Patient information
LAPAROSCOPY
CKS: Patient information leaflet - Laparoscopy: whole view
Authorised

Anil Gudi
What is laparoscopy
Date
10/01/2014
Version no/date
Next review
V3
10/01/2015
Page 4 of 4