Laparoscopy is a type of surgical procedure which allows the Surgeon to access the abdominal cavity and pelvic regions, without the need to make large incisions on the skin.
It is known by other names such as keyhole surgery or minimally invasive surgery. The laparoscope is a small tube with a light source and camera, and the images of the inside of abdomen or pelvis is relayed to the television monitor.
When compared with the traditional open surgery, laparoscopic techniques have the advantage of lesser pain, minimal bleeding, shorter hospital stay and reduced scarring.
Laparoscopy technique is beneficial for diagnostic purpose and surgical interventions. It is commonly used for the management of disorders in the following systems: gynecology (female reproductive system), gastroenterology (digestive system) and urology (urinary system).
Appendectomy:
Appendicitis (both acute and complicated) can be treated with laparoscopic appendectomy. The procedure is safe and reliable, improves diagnostic accuracy, lowers the number of wound infections and promotes an earlier return to routine life. However, the operating time is longer for laparoscopy vs open surgery.
No significant difference for the postoperative complication rates has been found between laparoscopic and open appendectomy. This includes pulmonary complications or postoperative ileus. However, with regard to long-term bowel obstruction, laparoscopic appendectomy has significantly better outcomes.
Cholecystectomy:
Among elderly patients, laparoscopic cholecystectomy shows superior outcomes when compared with open surgery, more so with regard to the cardiac and respiratory complications. This technique enables minimizing trauma to the abdominal wall.
Esophageal surgery: The laparoscopic procedure when used among patients with esophageal cancer and GERD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease), resulted in reduced overall morbidity and significantly better overall survival. However, this procedure for esophageal cancer cases is technically challenging, and given the variability in surgical techniques, it is difficult to interpret the outcomes from available evidence.
Urology:
Some of the indications where laparoscopy has proved superior to open surgery include: adrenalectomy (resection of adrenal glands), cryptorchidism (undescended testis), nephrectomy (removal of kidney) and pyeloplasty (for blocked ureters). Evidence shows the surgical and oncologic efficacy of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy when compared with open surgery.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic surgery is advantageous in terms of avoiding the large incisions or open wounds, and thus decreasing the blood loss, pain and discomfort to the patient. However, for the surgeons it is like operating on a mirror image.
Also, due to the reduced use of analgesia, patients have few unwanted side effects of the same. Since patients tend to recover at a faster pace, there is reduced risk of bone loss, muscle atrophy and deep vein thrombosis associated with physical inactivity. Given the small scars when compared to large ones of open surgery, laparoscopic surgery also benefits on the aesthetic front.