Diagnostic Laparoscopy

What is a diagnostic laparoscopy?

A diagnostic laparoscopy is a procedure in which your health care provider uses a laparoscope to look at the organs in the abdomen and pelvis, such as the liver or appendix or, in women, the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. A laparoscope is a thin tube with a light and tiny camera.

When is it used?

A diagnostic laparoscopy can help your health care provider determine the cause of medical problems you may be having, such as:

• pain, an abnormal lump, or fluid in your abdomen
• liver disease
• trouble getting pregnant
• a possible tubal pregnancy.

Depending on your problem, examples of alternatives may include:

• x-rays
• ultrasound scan
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• computed tomography (CT) scan
• more extensive abdominal surgery.

You should ask your health care provider about these choices.

Laparoscopy can be used for treatment as well as diagnosis. For example, your provider may remove abnormal tissues.

How do I prepare for a laparoscopy?

Plan for your care and recovery after the operation. Allow for time to rest. Try to find other people to help you with your day-to-day duties.

Follow your health care provider's instructions about not smoking before and after the procedure. Smokers heal more slowly after surgery. They are also more likely to have breathing problems during surgery. For this reason, if you are a smoker, you should quit at least 2 weeks before the procedure. It is best to quit 6 to 8 weeks before surgery. Also, your wounds will heal much better if you do not smoke after the surgery.

Follow any other instructions your provider gives you. If you are to have general anesthesia, eat a light meal, such as soup or salad, the night before the procedure. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight and the morning before the procedure. Do not even drink coffee, tea, or water.

What happens during the procedure?

You are given either a local anesthetic and sedative or a general anesthetic to prevent pain.

Your abdominal cavity is inflated with carbon dioxide gas. This helps your health care provider see your organs. Your provider makes a small cut (incision) in or just below your bellybutton and puts the laparoscope through the cut. The laparoscope is used to look at the abdominal and pelvic organs and tissues.

Your provider may put another tool through a small cut elsewhere in your abdomen and use the laparoscope to guide it. If an abnormal growth is found, your provider may use the other tool to take a sample of the growth to send to the lab for tests. Your provider may remove the growth altogether.

If you are a woman having the procedure to examine your uterus or fallopian tubes, your provider may inject dye through the vagina and into the uterus and tubes.

When finished, your provider releases most of the gas through the tube of the laparoscope, removes the scope and any other tools, and sews up the cuts.

What happens after the procedure?

You may stay in the hospital several hours or overnight to recover. The anesthetic may cause sleepiness or grogginess for a while. You may have some shoulder pain, feel bloated, or notice a change in bowel habits for a few days. You may not be able to urinate right away and may have a catheter (a small tube) placed into your bladder through the urethra (the tube from the bladder to the outside).

You should avoid heavy activity such as lifting. Ask your health care provider how much you can lift.

Ask your provider what steps you should take and when you should come back for a checkup.

What are the benefits of this procedure?

This minor surgical procedure may help your health care provider make a more accurate diagnosis without extensive surgery. Then your provider can suggest further treatment. Some problems may be treated surgically when this procedure is done. Your stay at the hospital and the time needed to recover will be much shorter than with more extensive abdominal surgery. You will also have smaller incisions.

What are the risks associated with this procedure?

• There are some risks when you have general anesthesia. Discuss these risks with your health care provider.
• The abdominal organs, glands, or blood vessels may be damaged. You may need abdominal surgery to repair them at the time of the laparoscopy.
• The lining of the abdominal wall may become inflamed.
• You may have infection or bleeding.
• You may have some pain after the procedure.

You should ask your provider how these risks apply to you.

When should I call my health care provider?

Call your provider right away if:

• You develop a fever over 100°F (37.8°C).
• You have redness, swelling, pain, or drainage from the incisions.
• You become dizzy and faint.
• You have chest pain.
• You have nausea and vomiting.
• You become short of breath.
• You have abdominal pain or swelling that gets worse.

Call during office hours if:

• You have questions about the procedure or its result.
• You want to make another appointment.