WHAT HAPPENS IF THE OPERATION CANNOT BE PERFORMED BY THE LAPAROSCOPIC METHOD?
In a small number of patients the laparoscopic method cannot be performed. Factors that may increase the possibility of choosing or converting to the ¨open¨procedure may include a history of prior abdominal surgery causing dense scar tissue, inability to visualize organs or bleeding problems during the operation.The decision to perform the open procedure is a judgment decision made by your surgeon either before or during the actual operation. When the surgeon feels that it is safest to convert the laparoscopic procedure to angical judgment. The decisions to convert to an open procedure is strictly based on patient safety.
Conversion of laparoscopic technique to open at the time of surgery is rare, occurring about 1% of the time. In all situations, the decision to convert to an open operation is based strictly on the patient’s safety. Reasons for the surgeon to elect to convert to the open procedure include bleeding problems during the operation, or inability to visualize adequately. For patients who have lost some weight before surgery and for patients who have never had abdominal surgery, intraabdominal infection, or radiation therapy to the abdomen, the rate of conversion to open surgery approaches zero. Many of our patients have had gynecologic procedures such as tubal ligation, caesarian section, or hysterectomy. A history of these operations is associated with a very low conversion rate. In almost all situations, we prefer a laparoscopic technique because recovery from surgery is quicker and the risk of infection and abdominal hernia is lower than with the open technique.
