Although both open and laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery procedures have been around for years now, many uninformed individuals may still remain doubtful about the relative merits of laparoscopic or open surgery procedures. This post aims to clarify such doubts.
The most fundamental difference between the laparoscopic and the open surgery is that in case of laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, tiny incisions are made in the patient’s abdomen—expediting the post-surgical recovery period. On the other hand, during an open surgery, an 8-10 cm incision is made in the patient’s abdomen to expose the affected area of the body. Thus in open surgery, the surgery related pain and post-operative complications are more common, and hence the recovery period is also much longer. You can discover a wealth of information about laparoscopic surgery here: Dr. Jhawar’s Surgery Blog.
Laparoscopic vs. open surgery: A comparative study
Although the majority of medical opinions lean in favor of laparoscopic surgery for most health conditions, there is some general confusion about which type of surgery is better for specific ailments, for example, hernia repair. According to a medical expert, laparoscopic surgery offers definite advantages over open surgery because of less organ exposure to external environments. The article Laparoscopic Surgery vs. Open Surgery indicates that open surgery carries risk of infections, which is almost non-existent in case of a laparoscopic surgery. This happens due to a higher exposure of internal organs to the external environment during the open surgery.
For example, in case of gallbladder surgery, you can refer to Neoalta’s Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Gallbladder Stones to get an idea of the advantages that laparoscopy offers over open surgery. According to Neoalta, if a patient qualifies for a laparoscopic surgery, then laparoscopic surgery is the way to go as it offers minimal pain, minimal complications, and quick healing time. Moreover, laparoscopic surgeons are usually highly qualified and competent to handle most cases.
The relative benefits of laparoscopic surgery over open surgery
Here are some obvious benefits of laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, which most patients are opting for as the preferred method of surgery these days:
- Tiny incisions minimizing the chances of infection
- Quick healing of operated area
- Quick recovery time (short hospital stay)
- The convenience of resuming normal activities within two weeks
- Considered safer surgical procedure compared to open surgery
Also, the patients have a right to find out about the laparoscopic surgeon’s capabilities and experience before agreeing to undergo a laparoscopic surgery. You can get a clear overview of the laparoscopic surgical procedures for different types of ailments in Neoalta’s Laparoscopic Clinic in India.