Laparoscopy is a form of minimally invasive surgery performed in the abdomen or pelvis through small incisions, typically 0.5-1.5 cm wide, with the help of an endoscopic camera to conduct medical diagnosis or to surgically treat a disease or condition.
A laparoscopic surgery uses a laparoscope, an instrument used to view structures within the abdomen and the pelvis. There are two types of laparoscopes. The first is a telecoscopic rod lens system usually linked to a video camera and the other is a digital type which places the charge coupled device at the end of the scope.
Laparoscopic surgery allows doctors to perform minor and complex surgeries with just a few small cuts in the abdomen. This makes an operation less painful and minimizes instances of hemorrhaging and provides for shorter recovery time.
Applied in the field of gynecology, laparoscopy is used to inspect the exterior of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. For this purpose, a special type of laparoscope is used. It is called a fertiloscope.