Health Information
Laparoscopy
Risks
There is a small chance for problems from a laparoscopy.
- Bleeding from the incisions
- Infection
- Damage to an organ or blood vessel. This may cause more bleeding that needs another surgery to repair.
A laparoscopy may not be done because of a higher chance for problems if you have:
- Abdominal cancer.
- An abdominal hernia.
- Had abdominal surgeries in the past.
After the surgery
Right after surgery, you will be taken to a recovery room where nurses will care for and watch your vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, oxygen level, and heart rate). You will stay in the recovery area for 2 to 4 hours, and then you will go home. Your nurse will explain any special instructions from your doctor. You will probably go home with a sheet of care instructions and who to call if you have a problem.
You may have some bloating. There may be bruising around the incisions for a few days. You may have some pain around the incisions. Do not drink carbonated beverages for 1 to 2 days after the laparoscopy to lower your chance of gas pains and vomiting.
The gas used during the laparoscopy can irritate your Reference diaphragm Opens New Window for a few days. You may have some pain or achiness in your shoulder for a couple of days after the laparoscopy.
Some of the gas in your belly may leak into your skin and cause a crackling sound if you rub the skin surrounding the stitches. This is not serious and will go away in a few days.
Call your doctor immediately if you have:
- A large area of redness or swelling around the incisions.
- Bleeding or drainage from the stitches.
- Fever.
- Severe belly pain.
- Hoarseness in your voice that lasts more than a few days or gets worse.
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