Laparoscopy Recovery: What to Expect After Surgery

Question
Hello. Can you please tell me what the recovery is like after a laparoscopy? I am sure it is different for everyone, but I have heard mixed things. Is there pain afterwards and do you think I would need as much as a week off after work? I may be having one next month and I want to know what to expect. Also, I had an appendectomy about 20 years ago (age 13) and have read there could be risks doing a laparoscopy if you have had previous abdominal surgery. I will of course speak to my doctor about this further, but I have been reading a lot about it online and was wondering what those risks could be. Thank you for your response.

Answer
Hello,

Laparoscopy is a surgery but an outpatient one because the risks and damage to tissue is minimal.  You cannot have surgery without pain, however.  Most of my patients recover in 3-7 days after laparoscopy, regardless of the procedure done inside i.e. fulgeration of endometriosis, scar tissue removal, removal of cysts or removal of ovaries.  Rarely, a patient needs two weeks to recover.  Most go back to work after one week and so I have my patients take off a week from work.  Most patients only need the narcotic pain medication the first day and use Toradol (non-narcotic) the remainder of the time.

Abdominal surgery can increase the risk from laparoscopy because scar tissue can be caused and lead to the intestines adhesed to the abdominal wall.  Appendectomies rarely do this, however, unless you had to have a large open procedure.  These large open procedures are the ones to worry about.  I don't use blind insertion anymore (have not for years) and use a cannula that I can see through with the scope as I enter.  The initial blind insertion of the varees needle is the usual source of injury to the intestines.  You just need to make sure that your doctor has a lot of experience, has been successful with this procedure and takes good precautions.  Talk to him or her about your concerns.

Overall, it is a minor procedure and patients do very well.

Good luck,

Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com

Monterey, California, U.S.A.