Services: Laparoscopic Surgery
Laparoscopic surgery is performed through smaller incisions rather than larger incisions
needed in traditional surgical procedures. The incisions typically measure 0.5 to
1.5 cm. Laparoscopic surgery includes operations within the abdominal or pelvic
cavities.
What are the benefits of laparoscopic surgery?
- Shorter recovery
- Shorter hospital stay
- Quicker return to normal daily activities and work
- Less pain
- Less use of pain medicine
- Three small scars instead of one large abdominal scar
- Better cosmetic outcome
- Less incidence of incisional hernia
- Less incidence of adhesions
Like other minimally invasive procedures, a telescope with a video camera is passed
through a small incision into the body. The images are projected onto a monitor
in the operating room to give surgeons a view into the body. Other small incisions
are made to perform the operation using special instruments.
The University of Florida surgeons at UF Health Jacksonville specialize in a number
of laparoscopic surgical procedures, including:
Laparoscopic Adrenal Gland Surgery (Adrenalectomy)
The adrenal glands are two small glands located in the back of the abdomen above
each kidney. They produce a variety of hormones that are essential to maintaining
normal function of the body: aldosterone, cortisol, sex hormones and catecholamines.
An adrenalectomy (removal of the adrenal glands) may be performed when a patient
has tumors (hyperaldosteronism, Cushing syndrome, pheochromocytoma) producing excess
hormones, tumors more than 4 cm in diameter, rapidly growing tumors, abnormal-looking
tumors, metastatic tumors or adrenocortical cancer.
A laparoscope attached to a video camera is inserted through a small incision in
the abdomen just below the rib cage. The view of the procedure is projected onto
video monitors in the operating room. The abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide
to allow the surgeon to have a better view of the area being operated on.
Two or three smaller incisions are made and other laparoscopic instruments are inserted
into the abdomen to remove the adrenal gland. The incisions are closed with sutures
and covered with adhesive bandages.
Most patients can expect to stay in the hospital for one day. Recovery time is approximately
one to two weeks.
Not all adrenal tumors are suitable for laparoscopic surgery. Patients with very
large tumors (more than 10-15 cm), or in whom a primary adrenal cancer is suspected,
are not suitable for the laparoscopic procedure and should undergo open surgery.
Patients undergoing open adrenalectomy often remain in the hospital for a few days
after the operation.
Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery
Colorectal conditions are associated with the colon and rectum, the lower part of
the digestive system. The following colorectal conditions are treated laparoscopically:
- Bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis (ulcers and abscesses in the bowel)
and Crohn's disease
- Colon cancer, colon motility problems (when colon muscles do not contract normally)
and removal of colon polyps (abnormal growths)
- Laparoscopic surgery can be used to establish a colostomy when certain conditions
require it. The colon is attached to the skin surface where waste is expelled through
the opening into a bag instead of through the original rectum). Colostomy reversal
can also be done.
- Diverticular disease (very small pouches or pockets in the bowel)
- Rectal prolapse (part of the rectum protrudes from anus)
Laparoscopic Esophageal Surgery
The esophagus is the passageway that connects the mouth and stomach. Our physicians
can help patients with the following conditions:
- Acid reflux disease correction to allow food to pass through the connection of the
stomach and esophagus, also known as Heller's myotomy for achalasia
- Hernia of the esophagus (see laparoscopic hernia surgery section)
- Cancer of the esophagus
- Diverticular disease of the esophagus
- Motility disorders, including inability to swallow correctly, chronic regurgitation
and spasms of the esophagus
Laparoscopic Gallbladder and Biliary Surgery
The gallbladder is part of the digestive system that holds the bile made in the
liver. Bile is a fluid used in digestion that breaks down food. Gallstones are formed
when the bile crystallizes. These stones often cause obstructions that must be corrected.
The following procedures are performed:
- Removal of the gallbladder, also known as a cholecystectomy
- Exploration and removal of obstructions of the bile ducts
- Correction of the connection between the bile duct and part of the small intestine,
also known as a choledochojejunostomy or choledochoduodenostomy, to allow drainage
Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery
A hernia is a protrusion of an organ or tissue through a weakness or a defect in
the muscle wall. The protrusion creates a bulge that is usually apparent upon standing
up, coughing or doing strenuous work, such as lifting or pushing heavy objects.
The hernia tends to disappear upon lying down, but may persist, particularly if
it is large in size. Hernias can develop around the umbilicus (belly button), in
the groin or any place where the patient may have had a previous surgical incision.
Some hernias develop slowly, others suddenly. Some hernias are present at birth.
The following hernias are repaired laparoscopically:
- Groin hernia
- Hernias at and above the navel, known as umbilical and epigastric hernias, respectively
- Incisional hernia occurring at the site of an old surgical incision
- Hernia of the diaphragm (the tissue that separates the abdomen from the thoracic
area)
Laparoscopic Kidney Donation
The removal of a donated kidney is called laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. The kidney
is removed laparoscopically and then immediately transplanted into the recipient.
Recovery time after laparoscopic kidney donation is significantly shorter than after
traditional open surgery. Most donors can return to work in as little as two weeks.
Through this minimally-invasive approach, the donor's discomfort and scarring are
also reduced.
Laparoscopic Liver Surgery
The liver helps with digestion, metabolism and cleansing of the blood. The following
procedures are available through laparoscopy:
- Liver biopsies to assist in the diagnosis of diseases
- Surgical removal of liver cysts and cancerous tumors
- Radiofrequency ablation, a technique using electrodes and heat to kill the unwanted
tissue
Laparoscopic Pancreatic Surgery
The pancreas produces fluids that help with digestion and absorption of food. The
following pancreatic surgical procedures are performed laparoscopically:
- Removal of all or part of the pancreas
- Removal of tumors and cysts in the pancreas
- Whipple operation, in which several parts of the gastrointestinal system, including
part of the pancreas, are removed for the treatment of cancer
Laparoscopic Small Bowel Surgery
The small bowel is often referred to as the small intestine and runs from the stomach
to the colon. The following small bowel surgical procedures are performed laparoscopically:
- Ileostomy (a connection from small bowel to abdominal skin surface, also known as
a K-pouch)
- Jejunostomy tube insertion (a tube that passes through the abdominal wall to part
of the small bowel through which nutrition is provided)
- Removal of cancerous and noncancerous lesions and obstructions
Laparoscopic Spleen Surgery (Splenectomy)
The spleen is an organ approximately the size of the fist that sits in the upper
left part of the abdomen just under the diaphragm and behind the stomach. The spleen
removes bacteria as well as dead and dying blood cells from the body, creates and
stores new red blood cells, and assists in fighting certain types of infections.
The spleen may need to be removed in any of following diseases: acute and chronic
leukemia, cysts, primary splenic thrombocytopenia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
(ITP), primary splenic neutropenia, Felty's syndrome, Banti's disease, congestive
splenomegaly, splenic tumors, splenic artery aneurysms, lymphomas, thrombolytic
thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), HIV splenomegaly, splenomegaly, splenocytosis, or
a variety of anemias.
To perform a laparoscopic splenectomy, a laparoscope attached to a video camera
is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen just below the rib cage. The
view of the procedure is projected onto video monitors located in the operating
room. The abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide to allow the surgeon to have a
better view of the area being operated on.
Two or three smaller incisions are made and other laparoscopic instruments are inserted
into the abdomen to remove the spleen. The incisions are closed with sutures and
covered with adhesive bandages.
Most patients can expect to stay in the hospital for one day. Recovery time is approximately
one to two weeks.
Laparoscopic Stomach Surgery
The division performs many types of stomach surgery, also know as gastric surgery:
- Gastrostomy (surgical insertion of a tube into the stomach)
- Insertion of gastric pacemakers for patients with gastroparesis (delayed emptying
of the stomach)
- Removal of all or part of the stomach
- Removal of benign or cancerous tumors of the stomach
- Repair of stomach ulcers and related diseases
- Gastric bypass (weight-reduction surgery in which the stomach is made smaller and
part of the intestine is bypassed)
- Biliary bypass
What to Expect
The most common preoperative diagnostic studies include needle biopsies, upper and
lower gastrointestinal endoscopies and a variety of imaging studies, including a
CT scan, MRI and ultrasound.
There is minimal risk in the evaluation process. Some diagnostic procedures and
evaluations require no eating for 12 hours before the testing. Your physician will
go over any pretest instructions. Upon completion of the studies, an appointment
will be made for the patient to meet with the physician to discuss the test results.
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