Diagnostic laparoscopy
Laparoscopy - diagnostic; Exploratory laparoscopy
Diagnostic laparoscopy is a procedure that allows a doctor to look directly at the contents of the abdomen or pelvis.
Laparoscopy is performed when less-invasive surgery is desired. It is also called Band-Aid surgery because only small incisions need to be made to accommodate the small surgical instruments that are used to view the abdominal contents and perform the surgery.
External structures of the female reproductive anatomy include the labium minora and majora, the vagina and the clitoris. Internal structures include the uterus, ovaries, and cervix.
Abdominal laparoscopy is a useful aid in diagnosing disease or trauma in the abdominal cavity with less scarring than with a large abdominal incision. Large operations such as liver and pancreatic resections may begin with laparoscopy to exclude the presence of additional tumors (metastatic disease) that would preclude curative resection. The procedure is usually done in the hospital under general anesthesia, but it may be done under local anesthesia.
How the Test is Performed
The procedure is usually done in the hospital or outpatient surgical center under general anesthesia (while you are asleep and pain-free). The procedure is performed in the following way:
- The surgeon makes a small cut (incision) below the belly button.
- A needle or hollow tube called a trocar is inserted into the incision. Carbon dioxide gas is passed into the abdomen through the needle or tube. The gas helps expand the area, giving the surgeon more room to work, and helps the surgeon see the organs more clearly.
- A tiny video camera (laparoscope) is then placed through the trocar and is used to see the inside of your pelvis and abdomen. More small cuts may be made if other instruments are needed to get a better view of certain organs.
- If you are having gynecologic laparoscopy, dye may be injected into your cervix so the surgeon can view the fallopian tubes.
- After the exam, the gas, laparoscope, and instruments are removed, and the cuts are closed. You will have bandages over those areas.
How to Prepare for the Test
Follow instructions on not eating and drinking before surgery.
You may need to stop taking medicines, including narcotic pain relievers, on or before the day of the exam. DO NOT change or stop taking any medicines without first talking to your health care provider.
Follow any other instructions for how to prepare for the procedure.
How the Test will Feel
You will feel no pain during the procedure. Afterward, the incisions may be sore. Your doctor may prescribe a pain reliever.
You may also have shoulder pain for a few days. The gas used during the procedure can irritate the diaphragm, which shares some of the same nerves as the shoulder. You may also have an increased urge to urinate, since the gas can put pressure on the bladder.
You will recover for a few hours at the hospital before going home. You will probably not stay overnight after a laparoscopy.
You will not be allowed to drive home. Someone should be available to take you home after the procedure.
Why the Test is Performed
Diagnostic laparoscopy is often done for the following:
- Find the cause of pain or a growth in the abdomen and pelvic area when x-ray or ultrasound results aren't clear.
- After an accident to see if there is injury to any organs in the abdomen.
- Before procedures to treat cancer to find out if the cancer has spread. If so, treatment will change.
Normal Results
The laparoscopy is normal if there is no blood in the abdomen, no hernias, no intestinal obstruction, and no cancer in any visible organs. The uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries are of normal size, shape, and color. The liver is normal.
What Abnormal Results Mean
Abnormal results may be due to a number of different conditions, including:
- Scar tissue inside the abdomen or pelvis (adhesions)
- Appendicitis
- Cells from inside the uterus growing in other areas (endometriosis)
- Inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis)
- Ovarian cysts or cancer of the ovary
- Infection of the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes (pelvic inflammatory disease)
- Signs of injury
- Spread of cancer
- Tumors
- Noncancerous tumors of the uterus such as fibroids
Risks
There is a risk for infection. You may get antibiotics to prevent this complication.
There is a risk of puncturing an organ. This could cause the contents of the intestines to leak. There may also be bleeding into the abdominal cavity. These complications could require immediate open surgery to treat them (laparotomy).
Diagnostic laparoscopy may not be possible if you have a swollen bowel, fluid in the abdomen (ascites), or you have had a past surgery.
References
Falcone T, Walters MD. Diagnostic laparoscopy. In: Baggish MS, Karram MM, eds. Atlas of Pelvic Anatomy and Gynecologic Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 115.
Velasco JM, Ballo R, Hood K, Jolley J, Rinewalt D, Veenstra B. Exploratory laparotomy - laparoscopic. In: Velasco JM, Ballo R, Hood K, Jolley J, Rinewalt D, Veenstra B, consulting eds. Essential Surgical Procedures. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 1.
Version Info
Last reviewed on: 4/20/2022
Reviewed by: Debra G. Wechter, MD, FACS, General Surgery Practice Specializing in Breast Cancer, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
