Laparoscopic surgery uses a thin, lighted tube
(laparoscope) that is inserted into the abdominal cavity through a very small
incision in the wall of the abdomen. The laparoscope allows the surgeon to see
inside the abdomen without making a large incision. Surgical instruments can
also be inserted through additional small incisions.
Laparoscopic
surgery may take about the same or more time to perform as open surgery, but
the time required for recovery is usually shorter. It costs about the same as
open surgery, which requires a large incision. The main advantages of
laparoscopic surgery are that the small incisions leave smaller scars, and
recovery from the surgery takes less time.
Laparoscopic surgical
techniques are often used to treat
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). When you are
choosing a surgeon, the most important consideration is the surgeon's
experience. Find out the number of these procedures the surgeon has performed
and his or her success rate.
