Laparoscopic surgery is a newly‑developed minimally‑invasive surgical approach and an inevitable trend for the future development of surgical techniques. Driven by rapid advances in industrial manufacturing, the integration of multiple related disciplines has laid a solid foundation for the application of new technologies and methodologies. Coupled with surgeons' increasingly proficient operating skills, many procedures that once required open surgery have now been replaced by intracavitary operations, greatly expanding the range of surgical options available.

Compared with conventional open surgery, laparoscopic surgery features small incisions, less postoperative pain and faster recovery, which are widely welcomed by patients. In particular, minimal postoperative scars satisfy aesthetic requirements, making it highly preferred by young patients. Minimally‑invasive surgery represents the general trend and ultimate pursuit of surgical development.

What Surgeries Can Be Performed Laparoscopically?

Laparoscopic techniques are suitable for treating certain benign conditions as well as early‑stage tumors. They deliver distinctive therapeutic effects for procedures including colorectal tumor resection, hiatal hernia repair with gastroplication, abdominal external hernia repair, gastrointestinal perforation repair, and lysis of adhesive intestinal obstruction.

In recent years, laparoscopic surgery has achieved substantial progress in gynecology. Common gynecological laparoscopic procedures include hysterectomy, myomectomy, ovarian cyst enucleation, surgery for ectopic pregnancy, fallopian tube‑related operations, infertility exploration, and pelvic lymph node dissection.

How Is Laparoscopic Surgery Performed?

What exactly is laparoscopy? Laparoscopic surgery is carried out using a laparoscope and its supporting instruments. A cold‑light source provides intra‑abdominal illumination. A laparoscope lens (3‑10 mm in diameter) is inserted into the abdominal cavity. With digital camera technology, images captured by the lens are transmitted through optical fibers to a signal‑processing system and displayed in real time on a dedicated monitor.

Surgeons analyze and assess the patient's condition based on multi‑angle images of internal organs shown on the screen, and complete the operation with specialized laparoscopic instruments. Most laparoscopic operations adopt a 2‑ to 4‑port technique. One port is placed at the navel to avoid long linear scars on the abdominal wall. After recovery, only one to three thin linear scars measuring 0.5‑1 cm remain on the abdomen. For this reason, it is also known as "keyhole surgery".

Laparoscopic surgery alleviates surgical‑incision‑related pain, shortens patients' recovery period, and relatively reduces overall medical expenses. It has become a fast‑growing surgical modality in recent decades. Nevertheless, laparoscopic surgery imposes high requirements on equipment performance and surgeons' proficiency. It is not suitable for every patient. Clinicians will comprehensively evaluate each patient's age, physical status and lesion conditions to determine the optimal therapeutic plan. Constantly evolving, laparoscopic minimally‑invasive surgery keeps expanding its clinical boundaries and has become an indispensable core technology in modern surgery.