Laparoscopy: A Simple Guide to Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery, often called keyhole or minimally invasive surgery, is performed through a few small cuts in the abdomen instead of one large one. The surgeon inserts a laparoscope — a thin tube with a camera and light — and views the inside of the abdomen on a monitor while working with narrow instruments.

Carbon dioxide gas is usually used to gently inflate the abdomen so the surgeon has space and a clear view. Most laparoscopic operations are done under general anaesthesia. Because the cuts are smaller, many people experience less wound pain and a shorter hospital stay than with equivalent open surgery, though this depends on the operation and the person.

Read the full explanation of laparoscopy, including how it compares with open surgery and what it can and cannot do.

Laparoscopy is used both to diagnose problems and to treat them. These pages describe the most common operations in general terms.

• Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery — removal of the gallbladder, usually for gallstones.
• Laparoscopic hernia repair — repair of inguinal, umbilical and other abdominal wall hernias.
• Laparoscopic appendectomy — removal of an inflamed appendix.
• Gynaecological laparoscopy — for conditions such as ovarian cysts, fibroids, endometriosis or infertility assessment.
• Diagnostic laparoscopy — used to look inside the abdomen when scans and tests are not conclusive.

See the full procedures overview.

Preparation usually includes a consultation, blood tests and other investigations, a review of your existing medicines, and instructions about fasting before anaesthesia. You will normally be asked about allergies, previous surgery, smoking and any long-term conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or thyroid problems.

It helps to write down your questions in advance — about the diagnosis, the alternatives, the likely recovery, the anaesthetic and the estimated cost. The patient guide includes a list of questions you may want to ask your surgeon.

After surgery you will be observed while the anaesthetic wears off. Many people are encouraged to sit up, walk a little and start light food fairly soon, depending on the procedure. Discomfort around the wounds, bloating and shoulder-tip pain from the gas are common in the first days.

Time away from work, driving, lifting and exercise varies with the operation and with your own recovery. Follow the specific instructions your surgical team gives you, and contact them if you notice fever, increasing pain, redness or discharge from a wound, persistent vomiting, breathing difficulty or bleeding. See recovery and warning signs.

There is no single price for laparoscopic surgery in India. The total depends on the procedure, the hospital and city, the surgeon and anaesthetist, the room category, the investigations needed, medicines and implants, the length of stay, whether complications occur, and how much your insurance covers.

Because published figures go out of date quickly and vary widely between hospitals, this site does not list prices. Instead, our cost guide explains what to ask for in a written estimate and which charges are commonly billed separately.