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In the traditional (open) surgery the opening (cut) is about 15 to 30 cm to allow the surgeon to see the anatomy and the operation field properly. In this type of surgery operator/surgeon is also using his hands and eyes to perform the procedures

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In the laparoscopic/ endoscopic or mini invasive approach the surgeon does not touch the organs directly by his hands. He uses very tiny instruments of 10 – 5 mm diameter and about 33 cm of length. That is why the mini invasive surgery uses not one bigger opening like the open surgery, but a few (3 – 6) tiny incisions of about 1 cm and about 2 cm for the endoscopic camera

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Through this camera the image of the operation field is being transmitted to the High Definition or even 3D Screens with possible magnification up to 6 times

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Main Advantages of the Laparoscopic approach for the Patient:

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• the small incision size - significantly reduces pain and risk of bleeding after surgery. With the large incision of open surgery, patients require long, even up to 3 weeks pain relive medication. Also mobility of the patient is very limited, until the stitch line would heal. After laparoscopic surgery patients are able to stand up and walk without help of others practically on the next day after the surgery

• better aesthetic outcomes. Smaller lap incisions are less likely to form the scars and after some time are almost unnoticeable

• less risk of post operative hernias

• since during the laparoscopic surgery all internal organs, except, parts that needs to be removed, are staying covered inside the body cavity, unlike as for open surgery they are often exposed to outside factors, the risk of surgical site infections is much lower for the laparoscopic approach

• for urological procedures - catheter is ​removed during 7 days after surgery, comparing to 3 weeks in case of open

 

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Surgeon

To perform surgery using laparoscopic techniques the surgeon must have a solid training and long experience with the use of laparoscopy, since it is not exactly the same as performing surgery directly with the hands. Technically it is  more demanding. The learning time to become good laparoscopic specialist is usually -  500 cases. That is why advisable is to ask the surgeon about his experience with the procedure and also his success and complication rates. For more information - check our How to choose your surgeon section

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Urological procedures, that can be performed using the laparoscopic technique:

 

• radical prostatectomy

• radical and partial nephrectomy

• radical cystectomy

• ureteral implantation

• pelvic and renal stones removal

• reconstructive urological procedures