Diagnostic laparoscopy is usually performed when a doctor or a surgeon has to examine a woman’s reproductive organs. Through this procedure, the doctor would get a full view of the abdomen or pelvis of the patient.
The surgery result will indicate whether the patient has an abnormal growth in her reproductive organs or any injury caused by some accident in the said area. The procedure is done in a day. But diagnostic laparoscopy can be tricky sometimes.
How the procedure takes place?
The doctor usually does this test in an outpatient ward, but in some cases, he or she might want to keep you in the hospital overnight. You will be sedated through general anesthesia and will not feel a thing during the process. The process takes place through the following steps:
- The surgeon will make a small hole or incision near or below your belly button.
- A trocar (hollow tube) will be inserted through the incision so that the surgeon could pass carbon dioxide gas through that. He or she does this because the gas helps to expand the area so that the surgeon could get a clear view of the organs.
- To get a full picture of your abdomen or pelvis, a laparoscope, i.e. a small camera is passed through the trocar. If the surgeon wants to see any other organ, he might use other instruments too.
- After the process, the gas, camera, and the tube are removed and then he or she would close the incision. Those areas will have bandages.
After Laparoscopy or Side Effects
Since you will be heavily sedated during the procedure, you will not feel any pain. Even after a few hours, your abdominal area will feel numb. But after that, the area will be very sore.
The following steps will provide you with the guidance you need on diagnostic laparoscopy Tx:
- Since you will be given anesthesia, you will not be allowed to drive yourself home after the test. So, always bring someone with you who could drive you home after the completion of the process.
- You will be in the hospital for a few hours after the surgery. Because the nurse will examine if you are fully awake or not. So, plan that time before coming for this procedure. You would have to stay in the hospital for at least eight to twelve hours.
- Your surgeon would guide you on how to clean the wounds from the incision and when do you have to return to the doctor to remove the stitches, if dis-solvable stitches are not used.
- You are likely going to have some pain due to the procedure; the doctor will provide you with painkillers to help you with the pain.
Do not worry if you have the following symptoms after the test:
- Bloating
- Pain in your shoulder
- Pain in the abdominal area
The above symptoms will happen because carbon dioxide gas has been passed through the incision. That irritates the nerves of your body.
Try resting for a few days after the surgery and avoid going outside at all costs. Do not worry about the process. If you follow the diagnostic laparoscopy Tx mentioned above, you will be your old self within one week.