Laparoscopic or open surgery?

Patients often ask whether the operation will be keyhole or open. The right answer depends on the illness and on you.

What is laparoscopy?

In laparoscopy the surgeon passes a camera and slim instruments into the abdomen through a few small cuts and works from a screen. The abdomen is filled with gas to make room. General anaesthesia is usually needed.

What is open surgery?

In open surgery the surgeon reaches the area directly through a larger cut. Some operations, such as groin hernia repair, can sometimes be done under local or spinal anaesthesia.

The differences

Laparoscopy has smaller cuts, and in many operations there is less pain afterwards and an earlier return to activity. But it needs general anaesthesia and has risks of its own. Open surgery is a well-known, reliable method and in some situations the better choice.

What decides the choice?

• The type and size of the problem
• Earlier abdominal surgery and adhesions
• Heart and lung disease and how well you would tolerate general anaesthesia
• The surgeon’s experience and what the hospital offers

Changing to open surgery

An operation sometimes starts by laparoscopy and the surgeon changes to open surgery for safety. This is not a failure, and you should know beforehand that it can happen.

Ask your surgeon

• Why is this method right for me?
• What are the risks?
• How long until I can go back to my work?