Laparoscopy is a type of surgical procedure that allows a surgeon to access the inside of the abdomen and pelvis without having to make large incisions in the skin. This procedure is also known as keyhole surgery or minimally invasive surgery.

An instrument called laparoscope is used to visualise the abdomen and pelvis. This is a small telescope that has a light source and a camera, which relays images of the inside of the abdomen or pelvis to a television monitor. Numerous surgeries can be performed via this for eg myomectomy (fibroid removal), diagnosing various pelvic conditions, removal of ovarian cysts, hysterectomy (removal of uterus), ectopic pregnancy etc.

The advantages of this technique over traditional open surgery include :

• A shorter hospital stay and faster recovery time
• Less pain and bleeding after the operation
• Reduced scarring