What is laparoscopy?
-The word "scopy" means looking inside the body, while laparoscopy means looking into the abdominal cavity. In addition, medicine has other types of scopy, including laryngoscopy (examining and looking into the larynx), gastroscopy (looking into the stomach), cystoscopy (looking into the urinary bladder), and rectoscopy (looking into the final section of the large intestine).
-Is laparoscopy used only to establish a diagnosis?
-Laparoscopy is both a diagnostic method and a treatment method. It differs from other methods in that it is safer, less invasive, and allows for a more precise diagnosis or procedure.
-Is it also a type of operation?
-Yes. In diagnosing diseases, laparoscopy is used when other tests are inconclusive, while in treatment it replaces traditional surgery.
Laparoscopy involves making several incisions in the abdominal cavity. They are 5–10 millimetre openings, and therefore very small. A fibre-optic instrument is inserted into the abdominal cavity through these incisions, making it possible to examine the abdomen, ovaries, etc. more precisely with a camera on a monitor and establish a diagnosis. If laparoscopy is used for an operation, the mechanism is the same, but surgical instruments are inserted through the incisions and the procedure is performed while its progress is followed on a monitor screen in considerable magnification.
-What can be diagnosed using laparoscopy?
-As I mentioned, this method is used when other tests fail. Laparoscopy is used to take swabs from the peritoneal cavity and to diagnose conditions such as infertility, endometriosis (adenomyosis), cancerous lesions of the reproductive organs, uterine fibroids, inflammatory lesions, cysts, and ectopic pregnancy.
-And what can be operated on using laparoscopy
-The conditions listed above; thus, the uterus, ovaries, cysts, cancerous lesions, ectopic pregnancy, etc. can be removed.
-Is the patient placed under general anaesthesia during such an operation, as with traditional surgery?
-Yes.
-Can every woman undergo laparoscopy regardless of her age and health?
-There are no special contraindications to using this method for diagnosis or treatment. Limitations, such as age or health, are the same as for traditional surgery. It is worth emphasising once again, however, that in many cases a laparoscopic procedure places far less strain on the body than a conventional operation; the patient loses considerably less blood, even during a major operation, the recovery time is much shorter (two or three days), and—something that is especially significant for women—it also has cosmetic advantages: the scars from the incisions are tiny and almost invisible.
Another advantage of laparoscopy is that images of the organs and the course of the operation are recorded on video and can be viewed by specialists.
-And are there any side effects of this method?
-This type of examination or treatment is not always indicated. For example, in some centres in Germany, 80 percent of gynaecological procedures are performed using laparoscopy, but even there situations arise in which this method is abandoned and the operation is converted to traditional surgery, sometimes during the procedure itself. In addition, laparoscopy requires specific skills from the doctor performing it. Moreover, it is still a surgical procedure, and complications may occur, as with any operation.
Money is being raised for a laparoscope
Following last year's successful HEART GIFT campaign (we remind you that medical equipment—a sonograph and an ENT device—was purchased and donated to the hospital), the Social Committee for the Purchase of Medical Equipment operating at TMB is seeking this year to raise funds to purchase a LAPAROSCOPE. We have already written about this device, which performs “bloodless” operations, and a discussion about the advantages of this apparatus, with the participation of doctors Jan Ośko, Maciej Pawlik and Stanisław Szczepański and members of the Social Committee, was also held on Local Television.
We are pleased to report that contributions have already been received from supportive institutions, offices, trading companies and private individuals for the purchase of a laparoscope. Significant amounts have been pledged by: BFFA “Polfa”, the Municipal Office and the offices of the surrounding Municipalities.
Thank you.... To all Donors.
We remind you of the bank account number:
PKO O/Bolesławiec
Account no. 22618-4112-132
Social Committee for the Purchase of Medical Equipment at TMB