Laparoscope Health Article

Definition

A laparoscope is a telescope-like endoscope used to view the abdominal cavity for diagnosis and treatment during a minimally invasive surgical procedure called laparoscopy.

Purpose

A laparoscope is used to directly examine the abdominal and pelvic organs to diagnose certain conditions and—depending upon the condition—to perform therapeutic surgery. Laparoscopes are commonly used in gynecologic laparoscopy to examine the outside of the uterus, the Fallopian tubes, and the ovaries—particularly in pelvic pain cases where the underlying cause of pain could not be determined using diagnostic imaging (e.g., ultrasound; computed tomography). Gynecologic conditions diagnosed using laparoscopy include endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cysts or tumors, pelvic inflammatory disease, pelvic abscess, infertility, uterine fibroids, and cancer. Laparascopes are used in general surgery to examine abdominal organs such as the gallbladder, bile ducts, liver, appendix, and intestines (external surface). Laparoscopy can identify appendicitis, cholecystitis, cirrhosis, hernias, ascites, and abdominal cancers.

During the laparoscopic procedure, certain conditions can be treated surgically using special laparoscopic instruments and devices designed to be used with laparoscopes. For example, appendectomy, cholecystectomy, biopsy of the ovary or liver, hernia repair, and removal of endometriotic tissue or cysts, can all be performed laparoscopically. Medical devices that can be used in conjunction with laparoscopy include surgical lasers and electrosurgical units. Other procedures that can be performed laparoscopically include hysterectomy, oophorectomy, tubal ligation, and lymphadenectomy. Laparoscopic surgery is now preferred over open surgery for several types of procedures due to its minimally invasive nature and associated lower complication rate.

A relatively new type of laparoscope is the microlaparoscope—a smaller laparoscope used to perform microlaparoscopy in the physician's office. Common clinical applications of microlaparoscopy in gynecology include pain mapping (e.g., endometriosis), and sterilization and fertility procedures. Common applications in general surgery include evaluation of chronic and acute abdominal pain (e.g., appendix), basic trauma evaluation, biopsies, and evaluation of abdominal masses.

Laparoscopes are most commonly used by gynecologists, urologists, and general surgeons for abdominal and pelvic applications. In addition to expanding applications in these areas, orthopedic surgeons are now using laparoscopes for spinal applications, and cardiac surgeons for minimally invasive heart surgery.