Laparoscopy
Reviewed
Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure that allows a surgeon to look inside your belly or pelvis through small incisions using a camera (laparoscope). It helps diagnose and sometimes treat conditions when imaging tests are not enough.
Preparation and collection
Follow your provider's instructions. You will need to fast (not eat or drink) for a period of time before the procedure. Ask your provider whether you should take your usual medicines or supplements. Do not stop taking any medicine without talking with your provider first. Plan to wear loose-fitting clothes and arrange for someone to take you home.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure and carries risks, including bleeding, infection, and damage to organs or blood vessels.
- It is usually done only when imaging tests have not provided enough information to confirm a diagnosis.
- Some conditions may not be visible during laparoscopy, and biopsy results may be needed for a definitive diagnosis.
- The procedure requires general anesthesia, which has its own risks.
- Recovery may include mild pain, bloating, and shoulder discomfort for a few days.
What to do next
Your provider will explain the findings from your laparoscopy and what they mean for your health. If a biopsy was taken, results may take additional time. Follow your provider's instructions for recovery and any recommended follow-up appointments or tests.