Laparoscopic surgical procedures are used to perform surgeries that could be done with a large open incision in the abdomen, but are instead performed by making one or more small incisions. The different types of laparoscopic surgery are, as a whole, considered by medical professionals to be less dangerous and painful than traditional open surgery. One type of laparoscopic surgery is referred to as the laparoscopic adjustable band, which helps fight obesity by creating a smaller area of the stomach and resulting in hunger being more quickly abated by eating. Another type of laparoscopic surgery is called laparoscopic nephrectomy, and it is often used to remove a kidney, either to be disposed of or for use in a kidney transplant.
One of the many possible laparoscopic surgical procedures is laparoscopic nephrectomy, which entails the removal of a kidney. There are two common reasons for a nephrectomy. The first is to remove a non-functioning kidney and eliminate the risk of negative effects of keeping it in the body. Another reason is so that a kidney can be donated to save someone’s life or at least increase his or her quality of life.
Common laparoscopic surgical procedures include the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band. This is a type of laparoscopic obesity surgery designed to help treat severely obese patients by causing them to feel full more quickly. The adjustable gastric band creates a second space at the top of the stomach that fills up more quickly than the entire stomach would, before slowly passing into the rest of the stomach. This medical device is adjustable, which means that, as the patient loses weight, the band can be tightened to suit his or her current needs. While this procedure, like other laparoscopic surgical procedures, still carries the innate risk of a major surgery, it is considered by many medical professionals to be a much safer option than alternatives.
Another surgery that is often performed as a laparoscopic surgery is a hysterectomy. A hysterectomy involves the removal of the uterus from a woman and is often performed in response to certain forms of cancer or as a gender reassignment surgery. There are many potential negative side effects to hysterectomies, laparoscopic or otherwise, such as urinary incontinence and premature menopause. Sexual side effects are also experienced in some women, such as the removal of the possibility of a uterine orgasm and cervical stimulation, depending on how much of the uterus is removed.