What is Laparoscopy?

Laparoscopic surgery, also called minimally invasive surgery (MIS), or keyhole surgery, is a modern surgical technique in which operations in the abdomen and pelvis are performed through small incisions (usually 0.5–1.5 cm) as opposed to the larger incisions needed in open surgeries.

Laparoscopic surgeries make use of images displayed on TV monitors to magnify the surgical elements

The abdomen is usually insufflated, or essentially blown up like a balloon, with carbon dioxide gas. This elevates the abdominal wall above the internal organs like a dome to create a working and viewing space. CO2 is used because it is common to the human body and can be absorbed by tissue and removed by the respiratory system.

There are a number of advantages to the patient with laparoscopic surgery versus an open procedure. These include:

  • Better visualization during surgery
  • Less bleeding
  • Less adhesions
  • Less postoperative pain
  • Reduced infection rate
  • Shorter recovery time
  • Better cosmetic results

What Urologic Operations can be performed by Laparoscopy?

  • Adrenalectomy
    • Removal of adrenal gland
  • Partial adrenalectomy
    • Removal of a part of the adrenal gland
  • Simple nephrectomy
    • Removal of the kidney due to benign disease
  • Radical nephrectomy
    • Removal of the kidney due to malignant disease
  • Partial nephrectomy
    • Removal of a part of the kidney due to benign or malignant disease
  • Ureteronephrectomy
    • Removal of the kidney and ureter due to benign or malignant disease
  • Donor nephrectomy
    • Removal of a donor kidney for transplantation
  • Nephropexy
    • Fixation of the kidney in its normal anatomic position
  • Renal cyst resection
    • Removal of a kidney cyst
  • Renal biopsy
    • Kidney biosy
  • Nephrolithiasis
    • Surgical treatments of kidney stones
  • Pyeloplasty
    • Repair of ureteral stenosis
  • Ureterolithotomy
    • Removal of ureteral stones
  • Varicocelectomy
    • Repair of testicular varices
  • Cryptorchidism
    • Removal of un-descended testis
  • Pelvic lymph node dissection
    • Removal of the pelvic lymph nodes
  • Radical prostatectomy
    • Removal of the prostate due to malignant disease
  • Radical cystectomy
    • Removal of the bladder due to malignant disease
  • Bladder perforation
    • Repair of bladder injuries
  • Sacro-colpopexy
    • Repair of pelvic organ prolapse
  • Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection
    • Removal of lymph nodes due to testicular malignant disease

What is Single Site Surgery?

  • In selected cases, laparoscopic operation can be performed through only one small skin incision of about 2 cm in diameter. The most common terminology