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Laparoscopy is a type of keyhole surgery used to diagnose and treat conditions. It allows a surgeon to use only small cuts and a camera for procedures inside the tummy or pelvis.

A laparoscopy can be used to diagnose conditions such as appendicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis and some cancers, such as liver cancer and ovarian cancer.

It's also used for surgery to treat conditions, such as:

• removing organs such as the appendix or gallbladder
• repairing hernias or burst or bleeding stomach ulcers
• removing organs affected by cancer, such as the ovaries, prostate or liver
• treating an ectopic pregnancy
• removing the womb (hysterectomy) or fibroids
• weight loss surgery

A laparoscopy is often recommended because the recovery time is faster than other types of surgery.

The hospital will give you information about how to prepare for a laparoscopy.

Depending on why you're having a laparoscopy, you may be asked to do certain things, such as:

• not eating or drinking
• stop taking certain medicines, such as anticoagulants
• stop smoking

You cannot drive after having a laparoscopy, so you'll need to organise for someone to drive you home.

Find out more about how to prepare before having surgery.

If you're having a laparoscopy to diagnose a condition, it usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes. It'll be longer if you're having surgery to treat a condition.

A laparoscopy is done under general anaesthetic, so you'll be asleep during the operation and will not feel any pain.

1. The surgeon will make a small cut, usually near your belly button.
2. Air is pumped into your tummy through the cut so the surgeon can see inside your tummy more easily.
3. A thin, flexible tube with a camera inside (a laparoscope) is then put into the cut so video images of the inside of your tummy can be shown on a screen.
4. If you're having surgery, more small cuts may need to be made in your tummy for the surgeon to pass their tools through.
5. When it's finished, the air is let out of your tummy and the cuts are closed with stitches or clips, and a dressing is placed on top.

After the operation

You'll spend some time in the recovery room and have medicine to help with pain and swelling.

After the operation, you may:

• feel sick or be sick
• feel more tired than normal
• have a sore throat
• have bloating, cramps or pain and discomfort in your tummy
• get shoulder pain
• have bruises around your wounds

Most people can leave hospital either on the same day or the day after.

How long it takes to recover from a laparoscopy varies.

It usually takes up to 5 days if you had it to diagnose a condition, or up to 6 to 8 weeks to fully recover if you've had surgery.

There are things you can do to help your recovery.

A laparoscopy is a common procedure.

Complications are rare, but can include:

• needing to have open surgery with a larger cut
• a hernia
• damage to an organ, such as your bladder
• damage to a blood vessel
• a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to the general anaesthetic
• blood clots, such as a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) or pulmonary embolism

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

Call 999 or go to A&E if: