The surgeon will make a small incision in the skin. A harmless gas, such as carbon dioxide, will be put into the body cavity to expand it and create a large working space. Through additional small incisions, a rod shaped telescope, attached to a camera, and surgical instruments are placed into the newly formed space. Surgeons are now able to perform all the major maneuvers previously done when a large opening was present.

Almost every organ in the human body has become accessible to the surgeon's camera and scalpel. The gallbladder can be removed by laparoscopic surgery in over 90% of patients. Many other organs can now be approached in a similar manner. These include the appendix, stomach, intestines, pancreas, spleen, kidneys and all the female organs. More recently, laparoscopic operations have also been developed for diseases of the bladder and the prostate in men.

Risks
Laparoscopy cannot always be performed on everyone. Some patients with many prior operations may have so much scar tissue within the body that a safe operation cannot be done. Each person responds in his or her own way to surgery and anesthesia. Individual results may vary.

Benefits
There is typically less pain and a quicker return to normal body function and overall physical activity after laparoscopic procedures.

Helpful Link
National Library of Medicine
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007016.htm