Hello, friends, after a short term vacation, I would like to continue to introduce one of most popular minimally invasive surgeries to you. With the development of minimally invasive surgery, laparoscopy is widely used in clinical treatment all over the world and is regarded as an alternative to open surger, for example, laparotomy. Today I will lead you to find the details of laparoscopy.
What is a laparoscopy?
Laparoscopy was one of the first types of minimally invasive surgery. Surgery done through one or more small incisions, typically ranging from 0.5 cm to 1 cm in size, by using small tubes and tiny cameras and surgical instruments .
When a laparoscopy is performed, a doctor uses an instrument called a laparoscope to look at the abdominal organs. A laparoscope is a long, thin tube with a high intensity light and a high resolution camera at the front. The instrument is inserted through an incision in the abdominal wall and can be used to treat a problem surgically at the same time.
Single-port laparoscopic surgery is a technique in which the surgeon operates through a single entry point, usually the navel. It is a minimally invasive procedure that leaves only a small scar.
When is laparoscopy used?
Laparoscopy is used to diagnose conditions or perform surgery in the abdominal and pelvic area. It can be used to treat surgical and gynaecological diseases like kidney tumors, ureteral stones, adrenal tumors, appendicitis, inguinal hernias, gallstones, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, etc.
What are the advantages of a laparoscopy?
Laparoscopic surgery has advantages over traditional surgery, including:
1. Less trauma and scarring because of small incisions.
2. The laparoscope provides a magnified and crystal-clear view of the body’s internal structures, facilitating precise surgical maneuvers.
3. Laparoscopy’s minimally invasive nature typically leads to decreased bleeding during surgery.
4. Patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures often experience reduced post-operative pain, shorter recovery periods, and shorter hospital stays compared to open surgery.
The collaboration between Chinese doctors and their counterparts in the Solomon Islands, leading to successful urological and gynecological laparoscopic surgeries since July 2023, is significant.
In July 2023, Dr Shawn and Dr Melly of NRH cooperated to perform several urological laparoscopic surgeries successfully, some of which are the first time operated in Solomon Islands.
Recently, Chinese gynecological expert Dr. Xu Ming-Juan from the Chinese Naval Hospital ship “Ark Peace” and Dr. Leeanne, a consultant from the gynecological ward of NRH, successfully performed a single-port laparoscopic surgery for a patient with fibroids. It is a great achievement that laparoscopy is applied in gynecological surgery in Solomon Islands.
I truly believe that with ongoing cooperation and the steadfast support of the people and government of the Solomon Islands, the field of laparoscopy is poised for rapid development. In the near future, the lovely people of the Solomon Islands will receive and deserve better medical services.
（Translated by HUANG BAILIN, International Office, Guizhou Medical University）
