Laparoscopy workshop
Laparoscopy is the use of a laparoscope to perform an operation in the abdominal cavity via small incisions. It is part of a group of operations called minimal access surgery. It is the same operation as an open operation but done via small access points.
Among the benefits are less pain, smaller and more cosmetic scars, early discharge from hospital and early return to work or school, and less wound infection compared to open surgery. It has a longer learning curve (meaning takes longer to learn) than open surgery, though.
Laparoscopy is commonly performed nowadays for cholecystectomy and appendicectomy. There are a number of laparoscopic “guru”s who employ laparoscopy for many other operations. Some are not yet considered “mainline”, standard procedures, but if the surgeon knows his own capability, and the patient knows the limitations and is willing, then it is probably worth trying the laparoscopic approach.
Dr. John Thanakumar, from Vellore, India, is one such “guru”. He was in Penang on 12th to 13th April to demonstrate his method of doing some laparoscopic procedures at the Adventist Hospital. It was organised by Dr. Ansari, the paediatric surgeon, and I was glad to be one of those picking up pointers and gaining inspiration on how to improve our laparoscopy service to patients.
Want to see what a surgical live demonstration looks like?
The operation was transmitted to the seminar room via CCTV. On the left is the normal, external video image and on the right is the laparoscopic image.
Quite a difference from a cinema!
wow it must have been good. What cases were put up?
looks interesting.
Is this what they called ‘keyhole’ procedure to the layman?
Capt Picard, yup.. i wonder when a holodeck might be the media for demonstrations…
… or a 3-D holographic reproduction might be the method of imaging for performing laparoscopic surgery instead of a 2-D video on a monitor image.
… a fertile imagination. Hehe.
George, interesting for sure…
… TEP hernia, TAPP hernia, varicocoele, impalpable testes, Nissen fundoplication, Heller cardiomyotomy with anterior fundoplication, hemithyroidectomy and a hysterectomy.
… and a memorable dinner.
nyonya, sure is. I’m in love with my laparoscope. Hahaha.
Doodle, yup.. medics also call it “keyhole” surgery.
Wow. The projector is so good. Image is bright and sharp
Read that surgeons who play playstation games are more adept in this skill?
We did laparascopy work on the terrapins! But of course the “turtle expert” from Western Australia did it, and we just watched, but well, I pretty much got the idea behind it
How many hours did you all have to watch the operations? And the guru operated non-stop?
Man, how could any ordinary person eat dinner after seeing all this blood and gore! *pengsan*
yenjai, yup.. the AV team were professionals, apparently.
just me, true.. see this. So, encourage your kids to play…
Pelf, that’s great! Kind to the terrapins
… What size ports do you use? What do they do in the terrapins?
eastcoastlife, there were 3 operations on the first day.. the “action” took about 3 hours, not counting the time in between cases. There were another 5 slotted on the 2nd day.. these took the whole day with a break for lunch.
The series of patients is just like a usual day in OT
ohhhhh…that’s where you disappeared to la…ingat ke dah MIA…ehhe…
Wootttt…..still got appetite for lunch after surgery???….*tabik*
hhmm…. now can post something lighter? like… a tag fro me? heehehe. http://sweetpeamy.blogspot.com/2007/04/tagged.html
Hi Dr. Bernard! Not sure you have done this tag but… you got tagged anyway..
http://siwwypig.wordpress.com/2007/04/18/layer-by-layer-tag
ps: I love your blog and the cool medical information you write… keep up the good work.. *thumbs up*
Laparoscopy….
Seem like the all operation is done through the image projected in stead of direct look at the “keyhole”
How they do that?
What happens if the doctor has the shits on the day of the operation? Does he makes frequent unscheduled runs to the shit house?
geeee… at least now I know how I looked like in the hands of you surgeons. my whole body was sore for days and I was told that I was literally filled up with gas! true??!
eve, ya lo ..
Chelsea, even better appetite after surgery la
Sweetpea, uahh.. i’m behind on my tag instalments already.. ok.. putting it on my to-do-list :-)..
.. i enjoy your finetunes selection too!
.. gas is true.. we use carbon dioxide to fill up the abdominal cavity. It’s to provide a space to operate in.
It’s inert, doesn’t support burning, and dissolves easily in water.. ideal. But it can be sore after op, sometimes at the shoulder-tip.
Siwwypig, uahh… thankfully it’s the same one as sweetpea tagged me with.
Ahhong, very observant!
There’s a camera attached to the scope. The video image is on a monitor in front of the surgeon. So the surgeon can stand up and operate. That’s why being good at playstation makes laparoscopic operating easy…. it’s all in the hand-eye co-ordination.
Cocka Doodle, having the shits means having the shits already… surgeon or any other mortal.. haha.
… the operations that I do are not that long, but some surgeons perform really long procedures. Sometimes, if nature calls really urgently, they’d have to take a break, and come back in after. Happens. Of course, they’d have to find a safe point of the surgery to take the break.
I don’t know what “size ports” is
And we used the technique to determine the sex of the terrapins. Because when they’re immature, we can’t tell their gender physically 
pelf, OIC… good use for laparoscopes. We’ll find more uses for them by and by