Laparoscopic surgery is a less invasive alternative to traditional “open” surgery which uses smaller incisions. With this technique, the surgeon uses a long, slender device with a small camera, called a laparoscope, inserted through a small incision in the abdomen. The camera allows the surgeon to view the internal organs on a screen. Surgical repairs are then done, sometimes through a separate small incision.
Benefits of laparoscopic surgery over open surgery include smaller incisions, less pain, shorter hospital stays, quicker recovery times, and a lower risk of infection. Laparoscopic surgery may be used in a variety of gynecological surgeries, including tubal ligation and hysterectomy, and to treat conditions such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, urinary incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse.