Laparoscopy: Before Your Surgery

What is laparoscopy?

La laparoscopia es un tipo de cirugía que utiliza cortes muy pequeños. Estos cortes se denominan incisiones.

El médico le introduce un tubo iluminado a través de unas incisiones en el abdomen. Este tubo se denomina laparoscopio. A continuación, el médico introduce instrumentos especiales a través del tubo para realizar la cirugía.

La cirugía puede realizarse para diagnosticar una afección, reparar o extirpar un órgano o ver si el cáncer se ha extendido.

En el caso de algunas cirugías, normalmente puede irse a casa el mismo día.

Las incisiones de la cirugía suelen dejar varias cicatrices de aproximadamente media pulgada (12.7 mm) de largo.

How do you prepare for surgery?

Surgery can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for surgery.

Preparing for surgery

• You may need to empty your colon with an enema or laxative. Your doctor will tell you how to do this.
• Understand exactly what surgery is planned, along with the risks, benefits, and other options.
• Tell your doctor ALL the medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies you take. Some may increase the risk of problems during your surgery. Your doctor will tell you if you should stop taking any of them before the surgery and how soon to do it.
• If you take aspirin or some other blood thinner, ask your doctor if you should stop taking it before your surgery. Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do. These medicines increase the risk of bleeding.
• Make sure your doctor and the hospital have a copy of your advance directive. If you don’t have one, you may want to prepare one. It lets others know your health care wishes. It’s a good thing to have before any type of surgery or procedure.
• Be sure you have someone to take you home. Anesthesia and pain medicine will make it unsafe for you to drive or get home on your own.

What happens on the day of surgery?

• Follow the instructions exactly about when to stop eating and drinking. If you don't, your surgery may be canceled. If your doctor told you to take your medicines on the day of surgery, take them with only a sip of water.
• Take a bath or shower before you come in for your surgery. Do not apply lotions, perfumes, deodorants, or nail polish.
• Do not shave the surgical site yourself.
• Take off all jewelry and piercings. And take out contact lenses, if you wear them.

At the hospital or surgery center

• Bring a picture ID.
• The area for surgery is often marked to make sure there are no surgical site errors.
• You will be kept comfortable and safe by your anesthesia provider. You will be asleep during the surgery.
• The surgery may take about 1 to 4 hours. It depends on what needs to be done. Hernia surgery may take 1 to 2 hours. But surgery to remove the spleen or part of the bowel may take 3 to 4 hours.

¿Cuándo debe llamar al médico?

• Tiene preguntas o inquietudes.
• No entiende cómo debe prepararse para la cirugía.
• Se enferma antes de la cirugía (como fiebre, gripe o un resfriado).
• Necesita cambiar la fecha o ha cambiado de opinión sobre la cirugía.