Exploratory Laparoscopy

What you should know

Exploratory laparoscopy (lap-ah-ROS-koh-pee) is surgery to look at the organs inside your abdomen. Examples of these organs are the stomach, small and large intestines, liver and uterus (in women). During laparoscopy, caregivers may look for causes of pain, abnormal growths, bleeding, or disease in your abdomen. Caregivers may also find and fix problems in your abdomen. For example, caregivers may fix a hernia or remove adhesions (scar tissue) from your organs and tissue. They may fix blocked or damaged organs, or take tissue samples.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Risks

• There are always risks with surgery. You may bleed more than expected, or get an infection. A special gas is used to make your abdomen bigger and easier to see inside during surgery. You may have shoulder pain from this gas for a few days. If you have many adhesions, too much bleeding, or other problems, you may need open surgery. There is a small chance that organs or tissues could get damaged during surgery.
  
  
• You may get a blood clot in your leg or arm. This can cause pain and swelling, and it can stop blood from flowing where it needs to go in your body. The blood clot can break loose and travel to your lungs. A blood clot in your lungs can cause chest pain and trouble breathing. This problem can be life-threatening. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about having an exploratory laparoscopy.

Getting Ready

The week before your surgery:

• Talk to your caregiver about over-the-counter medicine such as aspirin. You may need to stop using certain medicines for a time before your laparoscopy. If your caregiver has told you to take aspirin daily, do not stop without asking first.
  
  
• Tell your caregiver about any over-the-counter vitamins, herbs, food supplements, or laxatives you are using. These medicines may not work well with medicines you may need during surgery.
  
  
• You may need to have blood tests, x-rays, and other tests before surgery. Ask your caregiver for more information about these and other tests that you may need. Write down the date, time, and location of each test.
  
  
• Take any medicine that your caregiver has given you to take before surgery exactly as ordered.
  
  
• Arrange to have a family member or friend to drive you home when you leave the hospital. Do not drive yourself home.
  
  
• Your caregiver may want you to empty and clean out your bowel or other body organs before surgery. Doing this may stop your bowel from getting infected after surgery. Your caregiver may ask you to do one or more of the following things:
  
  
  • Eat high fiber foods for 1 to 2 days before surgery. Good examples of high fiber foods are fruits, vegetables, and whole-wheat cereals and breads. Drink 6 to 8 (eight-ounce) cups of healthy liquids each day, unless your caregiver tells you not to.
    
    
  • Take a special medicine called a cathartic the day before surgery. A cathartic will make you have diarrhea (loose, watery stools), but it will clean out your bowel quickly.

The night before your surgery:

• Try to get enough restful sleep the night before your surgery. You may be given a pill to help you sleep.
  
  
• If you have diabetes, ask your caregiver for special instructions about what you may eat and drink before your surgery. If you use medicine to treat diabetes, your caregiver may have special instructions about using it before surgery. You may need to check your blood sugar more often before and after having surgery.
  
  
• Ask caregivers about directions for eating and drinking.

The day of your surgery:

• Write down the correct date, time, and location of your surgery.
  
  
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing to the hospital.
  
  
• Ask your caregiver before taking any medicine on the day of surgery. These medicines include insulin, diabetic pills, blood pressure pills, and heart pills. Bring a list of your medicines or the pill bottles with you to the hospital.
  
  
• Do not wear contact lenses on the day of the procedure. You may wear glasses.
  
  
• An anesthesiologist will talk to you before your surgery. This caregiver will give you medicine to make you sleep during surgery.
  
  
• You or a close family member may be asked to sign a legal piece of paper (consent form). It gives your caregiver permission to do surgery. It also explains the problems that may happen with your surgery, and your choices. Be sure all your questions have been answered before you sign this form.

Treatment

What will happen:

• You will be asked to change into a hospital gown. You may be given medicine in your IV to help you relax or make you drowsy. You will be taken on a cart to the operating room and then moved from the cart to a special bed. You will get medicine called anesthesia to prevent pain and keep you comfortable during surgery.
  
  
• Caregivers will clean your abdomen with soap and water. This soap may make your skin yellow, but it will be cleaned off later. Sheets will be put over you to keep the surgery area clean. A laparoscope and other tools will be put into 3 or 4 small incisions (cuts) made in your abdomen. After your operation is finished, your incisions are closed with stitches (thread) or staples. Adhesive strips or bandages may also be put over the incisions. It is normal to have skin bruising at the incision sites. The bruising should fade away in about a week.

After surgery:

You are taken to a room where your heart and breathing will be monitored. Do not get out of bed until your caregiver says it is okay. A bandage may cover wounds to help prevent infection. You may be able to go home after some time passes. An adult will need to drive you home and should stay with you for 24 hours. If you cannot go home, you will be taken to a hospital room.

Waiting area:

This is an area where your family and friends can wait until you are able to have visitors. Ask your visitors to provide a way to reach them if they leave the waiting area.

Contact a caregiver if

• You have questions or concerns about your surgery.
  
  
• You have a fever.
  
  
• You cannot make it to your surgery on time.
  
  
• The problems for which you are having surgery get worse.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.