Laparoscopy, or minimally invasive surgery is an alternative to the traditional or what is known as “open” surgery, in which a large incision must be made to access the abdominal organs. In laparoscopic surgery we utilize small incisions to create a passageway for special surgical instruments and a laparoscope. A laparoscope is a fiber-optic instrument that is inserted in the abdominal wall.

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) or laparoscopic surgery has offered the patients many benefits including, but not limited to, early recovery, less postoperative pain, cosmetic incisions and less incidence to incisional hernias.  Since the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 1985, laparoscopic surgery has expanded in leaps and bounds to become the standard procedure for many intra-abdominal surgeries. With traditional laparoscopy and multi-port da Vinci Robotic Surgery, surgeons operate through a few small incisions.

For example, if you have severe gallbladder symptoms, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove your gallbladder. Gallbladder removal is known as a cholecystectomy. It can be performed using open surgery through a large incision or with minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy). Laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder is considered the standard of care nowadays.