Laparoscopic surgery results in minimal scarring.
The appendix is a small pouch attached to the large intestine. It serves no purpose and when it becomes inflamed or infected it must be removed. A laparoscopic surgeon will make three or four small incisions, between a quarter of an inch and half an inch long, in the abdomen. A small telescopic camera is inserted, which sends a magnified picture of the abdominal cavity to a television screen. The surgeon uses that image to locate and remove the appendix.
Trocars and Cannulas
Trocars are used to make the incisions. They are very sharp instruments,
usually with three points. The trocar is attached to a cannula. A cannula is a narrow tube that is inserted into the body cavity. Instruments will be placed into the abdomen via the cannula during the surgery.
Inside the Abdomen
An insufflator is used to pump carbon dioxide gas into the abdomen. This causes the abdomen to expand, allowing the surgeon more room to work. A laparoscope is then inserted. It's a very small video camera with a telescope that allows the surgeon to see inside the abdominal cavity.
Removing the Appendix
Claw graspers and dolphin nose graspers are used to lift the appendix and separate it from the surrounding tissue. An Endo GIA tool simultaneously cuts and staples the appendix. One of the graspers places the severed appendix into a small bag that is removed through one of the incisions.
