Laparoscopic Surgery in Bhubaneswar
Laparoscopic surgery in Bhubaneswar is a minimally invasive surgical technique that uses a camera and specialised instruments inserted through small incisions. It may be suitable for certain conditions affecting the abdomen, depending on the diagnosis and the patient’s health.
Dr. Kasturi Bharadwaj is a general and laparoscopic surgeon and an Associate Professor at IMS & SUM Hospital. She provides consultations for patients who need assessment for possible laparoscopic surgery. This page explains how the procedure works, which conditions may be treated, its potential benefits and risks, and what recovery may involve.
Laparoscopic surgery is not suitable for every patient. The recommended approach depends on the condition being treated, previous operations, general health and the surgeon’s assessment. In some cases, open surgery may be the safer option.
What is laparoscopic surgery?
In laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon makes several small cuts in the abdomen. A thin tube with a camera, called a laparoscope, is passed through one cut, and it sends images to a monitor. Fine instruments are passed through the other cuts, so the surgeon can operate while watching the screen. Carbon dioxide gas is gently introduced into the abdomen to create working space and is released at the end of the operation.
The technique is used both to treat conditions and to look inside the abdomen when the cause of symptoms is unclear. It is usually done under general anaesthesia.
Conditions that may be treated laparoscopically
- Gallstones: Removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is the usual treatment for stones that cause repeated pain or inflammation, and it is most often done by the keyhole method, as discussed under gallbladder treatment.
- Hernias: Selected hernias, such as many groin hernias, can be repaired through small cuts, and the approach is described on the laparoscopic hernia repair page, while the wider picture of causes and options is covered under hernia treatment.
- Appendicitis: An inflamed appendix can be removed laparoscopically in suitable patients, which is explained on the laparoscopic appendectomy page.
- Unexplained abdominal symptoms: When tests do not give a clear answer, diagnostic laparoscopy lets the surgeon look directly at the abdominal organs and, if needed, take a sample for testing.
Not every abdominal condition can be treated this way, and the clinic’s range of operations is also described under abdominal surgery.
Who may be suitable for laparoscopic surgery?
Laparoscopic surgery may be considered when you need an operation for a condition that can be treated this way and your doctor feels it is safe for you. It is not suitable for everyone. The choice can be affected by:
- Previous abdominal operations, which can cause scar tissue (adhesions)
- A severe infection in the abdomen or an emergency in which the patient is unstable
- Certain heart or lung conditions may increase the risks associated with general anaesthesia or the gas used during laparoscopic surgery. The surgical and anaesthesia teams assess these risks before recommending an approach and determine whether laparoscopic or open surgery is more appropriate.
- Bleeding or clotting problems
- The size and complexity of the condition, and how clearly it can be seen
Your surgeon will examine you, review your tests and tell you whether a keyhole operation is advisable or whether open surgery is the safer choice. Sometimes the operation is started laparoscopically and changed to open surgery during the procedure if it is safer, and this is not a failure of treatment.
Laparoscopic and open surgery compared
For suitable conditions, laparoscopic surgery can offer:
- Smaller wounds and smaller scars
- Often less pain at the wound sites in the first days
- A shorter hospital stay in many cases
- A quicker return to routine activity for many patients
These are general tendencies and not promises. The size of the benefit depends on the procedure and on the individual, and open surgery may be better in some situations, for example when the anatomy is not clear or the condition is advanced. The more general question of choosing between the approaches is also discussed on the general surgery page.
How a consultation and evaluation work
Before recommending surgery, the doctor takes your history, examines you and asks about earlier operations, medicines and allergies. Depending on your condition, tests such as blood tests, ultrasound, CT scan or MRI may be advised. You will be told the diagnosis, the treatment options (including non-surgical ones where they are suitable), the likely benefits and the risks. You are free to ask questions and to take a second opinion before deciding.
The day of surgery
Before surgery you are usually asked to fast and may be asked to adjust some regular medicines. You are also seen by the anaesthesia team. During the operation, the surgeon makes the small cuts, performs the procedure while watching the monitor, releases the gas, and closes the cuts with stitches or surgical glue. You are then watched in a recovery area, and the doctor decides whether you go home the same day or stay in hospital, depending on the procedure and how you are recovering.
Recovery and aftercare
Recovery varies with the operation and with each person. In general:
- You will usually be encouraged to start walking soon after surgery, as advised by your team
- You may feel mild shoulder-tip pain or bloating for a day or two, which comes from the gas used during the operation
- Take medicines as prescribed and keep the wounds clean and dry
- Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous work until your surgeon says it is safe
- Return for your follow-up visits
- Contact your doctor if you develop fever, increasing pain, vomiting, redness or discharge from a wound, or yellowing of the eyes
Some patients get back to routine activity within days and others need weeks, so your surgeon will give you a timeline for your own procedure.
Risks and possible complications
Laparoscopic surgery is widely used and generally safe, but like any operation it carries risks. These can include:
- Bleeding
- Infection of a wound or inside the abdomen
- Reactions to anaesthesia
- Injury to nearby organs, blood vessels or, in gallbladder surgery, the bile duct (uncommon but serious)
- Blood clots
- A hernia at one of the cut sites
- Conversion to open surgery, when this is needed for safety
Your surgeon will go through the risks that apply to your operation and ask for your written consent before the procedure.
Consultation for Laparoscopic Surgery in Bhubaneswar
If you have been diagnosed with a condition that may require surgery, a consultation with Dr. Kasturi Bharadwaj can help you understand the available treatment options. The assessment may include a review of your symptoms, medical history, previous operations and investigation reports.
The recommended treatment will depend on your individual condition. Your surgeon can explain whether laparoscopic surgery, open surgery or another approach is appropriate, along with the potential benefits, risks and expected recovery.
For appointment enquiries, visit the official contact page..
FAQs
It is a technique in which an operation is performed through small cuts using a camera and fine instruments, to treat or diagnose conditions inside the abdomen.
Some pain is expected after any operation. Wound pain is often milder after keyhole surgery, though shoulder-tip pain from the gas is common for a day or two. Pain relief is planned for each patient.
It depends on the procedure and on how complex the case is, so your surgeon can give an estimate for your operation.
It varies from a few days to several weeks depending on the procedure and your health, and your surgeon will explain what to expect for you.
Some patients go home the same day and others stay for a night or longer, depending on the operation and recovery. [CONFIRM hospital-stay practice.
The cuts are small and usually heal into small marks, but scarring differs between people.
No. Previous surgeries, severe infection, certain heart or lung conditions, bleeding problems and the complexity of the disease can make open surgery the better option.
Examples include gallstones, some hernias and appendicitis, and the camera can also be used to examine the abdomen when the cause of symptoms is unclear. [CONFIRM the list of procedures performed.
Benefits can include smaller wounds, less wound pain and a quicker return to routine activity for many patients, while risks include bleeding, infection, injury to nearby organs and the need to change to open surgery.