What does laparoscopy entail?

Dr van der Westhuizen administers a general anaesthetic to numb sensation and keeps you sedated throughout the procedure. First, she creates a few incisions in the abdomen where she will insert the laparoscope. Furthermore, she inflates the abdomen using gas so she can see inside the area. When the procedure is complete, stitches are used to close the wounds, and a dressing is used to protect the site.

Dr van der Westhuizen performs the following laparoscopic surgeries:

• Laparoscopic appendectomy is a minimally invasive emergency procedure to treat appendicitis. Appendicitis is a condition that occurs due to an infected appendix. As a result, Dr van der Westhuizen must remove the appendix before it bursts. About three small incisions are made across the abdomen, and a laparoscope is placed through one of these openings. Dr van der Westhuizen uses the images from the camera at the tip of the laparoscope as a guide when removing the appendix. The appendix can be removed from one of the other incisions.
• Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy) is a procedure to remove a diseased gallbladder. Dr van der Westhuizen makes four small incisions over the gallbladder. She will insert a laparoscope through one of these incisions, and another, she will remove the problematic gallbladder.

Normally, after laparoscopic surgery, you can return home on the day. This is because you will experience grogginess after the procedure due to the anaesthetic. However, grogginess and nausea should subside once the anaesthetic wears off.