Preparation of a patient 
FOR LAPAROSCOPY 
MAHMOUD ABDELALEEM
INTRODUCTION 
 The field of endoscopic surgery has 
expanded dramatically in the last 25 years. 
 Laparoscopy is the accepted treatment 
modality for many gynaecological conditions. 
 Advantages of laparoscopic surgery extend 
to include patient, surgeon and health 
system.
IMPORTANT RULES 
 Safety comes first……….!!! 
 Looking through a hole 
 Magnified field 
 Although Any operation can be done by 
LAPAROSCOPY, Not every GYNECOLOGIST 
should be competent in laparoscopic surgery !!!! 
This is a highly technical subspecialty. 
 Valid indication in the absence of 
contraindication with every possible step to 
avoid complication.
Two years 
before 
• Prepare yourself, your team and the OR. 
One week 
before 
• Indication. 
• Contraindication. 
• Counseling. 
• Timing 
One day 
before 
• Patient instructions. 
Day “0” 
• Check the OR. 
• Check the team.
TWO YEARS BEFROE 
 Prepare your self by knowledge, skills and competence in open surgery. 
 Prepare yourself to be a laparoscopic surgeon: 
 Develop eyes-hands-foot coordination by Being a good Wii player. 
 Stick to a competent laparoscopic surgeon to observe then perform under 
supervision then perform alone then train others. 4-7 years are required 
to attain good experience. 
 Always attend courses, workshops, use pelvi-trainer exercises, use virtual 
reality simulators, and watch video films. 
 Prepare an experienced anesthesiologist. 
 Prepare a well-designed OR for laparoscopy. 
 Build up a team for laparoscopic surgery.
Two years 
before 
• Prepare yourself, your team and the OR. 
One week 
before 
• Indication. 
• Contraindication. 
• Counseling. 
• Timing 
One day 
before 
• Patient instructions. 
Day “0” 
• Check the OR. 
• Check the team.
THE WEEK BEFORE 
 The indication. 
 The contraindication. 
 The counseling. 
 Realistic expectations. 
 Patient awareness. 
 Timing: 
 Never during menses. 
 Best in the postmenstrual phase. 
 Premenstrual ?????? 
 Treat any lower genital tract infection.
DIAGNOSTIC LAPAROSCOPY 
 Infertility. 
 Pelvic pain: acute and chronic. 
 Missed IUD. 
 Undisturbed ectopic pregnancy. 
 Suspected PID.
PCOS 
 Failed induction in an infertile patient. PCOS is a medical 
disease 
 Lean patient. 
 LH > 10 IU/L. 
 Hyperandrogenism. 
 Not small sized ovaries. 
 Other fertility factors normal. 
 Regular marital life 6 months after the operation should be 
guaranteed. 
 Counsel that patient that this line is effective only in half the 
patients. 
 Every effort to avoid reduced ovarian reserve. 
 Every effort to avoid postoperative adhesions.
PELVIC ADHESIOLYSIS 
 Aim at both patency [anatom] and potency [physiolo] of the tube. 
 PATENCY: HSG, chromopertubation, sonosalpingography 
 POTENCY: HSG !!!, salpingoscopy. 
 Safe adhesiolysis 
 Always remember the rule of 6 
 Do the procedure day 6-10 postmenstural. 
 6 eyes: “3” surgeons should decide whether to do or not to do. 
 When ooze occurs apply pressure for at least 6 minutes. 
 If not pregnant within 6 months: ART is an option. 
 Always fill the DP by about 600 mL of saline at the end of 
procedure.
OVARIAN CYST 
 Every possible step to avoid: 
 A cyst that would disappear spontaneously !!!!! 
 A cyst that would bring up more complications!!!!! 
 Malignant cyst. 
Dermoid cyst. 
 Every effort to avoid reduced ovarian 
reserve. 
 Every effort to avoid postoperative 
adhesions.
PREOPERATIVE EVALUATION 
 The goal of preoperative evaluation is to 
identify and modify risk factors that might 
adversely effect anesthetic care and surgical 
outcome. 
 Up to 50% of patients presenting for 
elective surgery are regarded as 
“healthy.” 
 A patient presenting without established 
medical diagnoses is not necessarily 
healthy
 Preoperative evaluation should seek to 
determine absolute contraindications to 
laparoscopy. 
 Poor risk for general anesthesia 
 Inability to tolerate pneumoperitoneum 
 Uncorrectable coagulopathy
 History of cardiopulmonary disease 
 Risk of pregnancy 
 History of previous abdominal operations 
 History of abnormal bleeding 
 Difficulty with prior anesthetics
 Assessment of the head and neck 
 Assessment of lungs and heart. 
 Assessment of the abdomen (including 
surgical scars). 
 Assessment of neurologic & vascular 
systems. 
 Vital signs.
Diagnostic studies should be performed on a selective basis. 
 Hemoglobin (Hg): Indicated if significant blood loss may be expected from the operation. 
Anemia may be sought in women with heavy menstrual bleeding. 
 Coagulation profile: While routine screening is not useful, PT and PTT should be checked in 
patients with a personal or family history of abnormal bleeding. 
 Serum electrolytes: Routinely check electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine 
for patients with diarrhea, renal disease, liver disease, or diabetes as well as for those receiving 
diuretics. 
 Liver function tests are indicated for patients with known liver disease. 
 Chest X-ray (CXR): Routine CXR is rarely helpful for abdominal laparoscopy, 
 Electrocardiogram (EKG): reserved for women older than 50, particularly those with other risk 
factors such as Hypertension, obesity, or diabetes. 
 Pregnancy test: Indicated in female patients of childbearing age. 
 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis testing is not indicated.
Two years 
before 
• Prepare yourself, your team and the OR. 
One week 
before 
• Indication. 
• Contraindication. 
• Counseling. 
• Timing 
One day 
before 
• Patient instructions. 
Day “0” 
• Check the OR. 
• Check the team.
THE DAY BEFORE (DAY -1) 
 Inform an experienced anesthesiologist. 
 Tell the patient to have full fasting for 8 hours. 
 Patient should clean her umbilicus and panniculus well. 
 If expecting difficult adhesiolysis, bowel preparation is done. 
 Management of patients’ baseline medications and special 
surgery-related medications as well as day of surgery instructions 
 Sleep well !!!!!!. 
 TAKE CARE: Ergonomic study among laparoscopic surgeons 
showed 87% experienced musculoskeletal symptoms (neck ache, 
back pain, elbow pain, wrist pain and finger numbness) 
occasionally or often during their operating sessions, and 59% 
experienced neurological symptoms (headache and eyestrain) 
occasionally or often.
Two years 
before 
• Prepare yourself, your team and the OR. 
One week 
before 
• Indication. 
• Contraindication. 
• Counseling. 
• Timing 
One day 
before 
• Patient instructions. 
Day “0” 
• Check the OR. 
• Check the team.
THE DAY OF SURGERY DAY (0) 
 Consent and documentation. 
 Check for instrumentation before patient gets in. 
Any failure counts only against you. !!!!!!! 
 Be near to a conventional surgery theatre -just 
in case- !!! 
 IV 1gm of prophylactic antibiotic 0.5 hour before 
anesthesia. 
 To be repeated at one hour interval during surgery. 
 Put in mind the concept of anticoagulation if 
surgery lasts > 30 minutes. Extended 
laparoscopic surgery is classified as moderate 
risk.
OBESE PATIENT 
 There is no absolute contraindication. 
 Additional preoperative testing/information: 
EKG, CXR, Attempted weight loss 
preoperatively, even if minimal, Cardiac and 
pulmonary testing as indicated in those with 
cardiac or pulmonary comorbidities. 
 Special issues for the informed consent: 
 Increased chance of conversion to open laparotomy. 
 Additional ports may be required to obtain adequate 
exposure. 
 Prepare Extralong ports, trocars, and 
instruments may be needed.
 Additional preoperative medical/anesthesia planning: 
 Standard risk evaluation should be performed. 
 Complete muscle relaxation. The degree to which the 
abdominal wall is elevated in response to the 
pneumoperitoneum is maximized if the abdominal wall 
muscles are relaxed. 
 Unique OR equipment or staffing: 
 Increased OR time. Laparoscopic surgery in the morbidly 
obese patient often requires additional OR time. 
 Special large-size OR table. 
 Foot boards and safety straps to avoid shifting during 
intraoperative positioning. 
 Special instruments. 
 Additional ports for exposure. 
 Postoperative “Big Boy Bed.”
PREGNANT PATIENT 
 The pregnant patient may develop appendicitis, cholecystitis, torsion of 
the ovary, or a number of other problems that may require urgent or 
emergent surgery. 
 Due to an increased risk of preterm delivery (<37 weeks estimated 
gestational age), every effort should be made to postpone surgery until 
after delivery of the fetus, except for emergent indications. 
 When surgery is necessary in this population, minimally invasive 
methods can be used. 
 Most authorities recommend avoidance of pneumoperitoneum and 
laparoscopy until the second trimester for indicated nonemergent 
operations. 
 It is important to avoid manipulation of the uterus during surgery, which 
can induce preterm labor.
 Additional preoperative medical/anesthesia planning: 
 Avoid fetal acidosis. 
 Keep end-tidal CO2 between 25 and 33 by changing 
minute ventilation. 
 Consider arterial blood gas monitoring. 
 Special anesthetic precautions should be used to avoid 
aspiration and hypotension. 
 Special issues for the informed consent: 
 Increased chance of conversion to open laparotomy. 
 The risks relating to surgery during the first trimester 
include teratogenesis and a miscarriage rate of 
approximately 12%. 
 The possibility of damaging the gravid uterus with 
laparoscopic instruments, ports, or trocars.
 Planned alterations from the standard laparoscopic 
approach: 
 Minimize operative time so that fetal acidosis is 
minimized. 
 Solicit the most senior assistant available even for a 
“minor” case. 
 Minimize pneumoperitoneum pressures to the 10– 
12mmHg level. 
 Elevation of the patient’s right side during positioning to 
avoid inferior vena cava compression by the gravid 
uterus. 
 Use angled laparoscopes to facilitate seeing around the 
uterus. 
 Maternal monitoring with end-tidal CO2
WISHING YOU 
HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL LAPAROSOCPIC 
PROCEDURE 
THANK YOU

How to prepare a patient for laparoscopy ?

  • 1.
    Preparation of apatient FOR LAPAROSCOPY MAHMOUD ABDELALEEM
  • 2.
    INTRODUCTION  Thefield of endoscopic surgery has expanded dramatically in the last 25 years.  Laparoscopy is the accepted treatment modality for many gynaecological conditions.  Advantages of laparoscopic surgery extend to include patient, surgeon and health system.
  • 4.
    IMPORTANT RULES Safety comes first……….!!!  Looking through a hole  Magnified field  Although Any operation can be done by LAPAROSCOPY, Not every GYNECOLOGIST should be competent in laparoscopic surgery !!!! This is a highly technical subspecialty.  Valid indication in the absence of contraindication with every possible step to avoid complication.
  • 5.
    Two years before • Prepare yourself, your team and the OR. One week before • Indication. • Contraindication. • Counseling. • Timing One day before • Patient instructions. Day “0” • Check the OR. • Check the team.
  • 6.
    TWO YEARS BEFROE  Prepare your self by knowledge, skills and competence in open surgery.  Prepare yourself to be a laparoscopic surgeon:  Develop eyes-hands-foot coordination by Being a good Wii player.  Stick to a competent laparoscopic surgeon to observe then perform under supervision then perform alone then train others. 4-7 years are required to attain good experience.  Always attend courses, workshops, use pelvi-trainer exercises, use virtual reality simulators, and watch video films.  Prepare an experienced anesthesiologist.  Prepare a well-designed OR for laparoscopy.  Build up a team for laparoscopic surgery.
  • 7.
    Two years before • Prepare yourself, your team and the OR. One week before • Indication. • Contraindication. • Counseling. • Timing One day before • Patient instructions. Day “0” • Check the OR. • Check the team.
  • 8.
    THE WEEK BEFORE  The indication.  The contraindication.  The counseling.  Realistic expectations.  Patient awareness.  Timing:  Never during menses.  Best in the postmenstrual phase.  Premenstrual ??????  Treat any lower genital tract infection.
  • 9.
    DIAGNOSTIC LAPAROSCOPY Infertility.  Pelvic pain: acute and chronic.  Missed IUD.  Undisturbed ectopic pregnancy.  Suspected PID.
  • 10.
    PCOS  Failedinduction in an infertile patient. PCOS is a medical disease  Lean patient.  LH > 10 IU/L.  Hyperandrogenism.  Not small sized ovaries.  Other fertility factors normal.  Regular marital life 6 months after the operation should be guaranteed.  Counsel that patient that this line is effective only in half the patients.  Every effort to avoid reduced ovarian reserve.  Every effort to avoid postoperative adhesions.
  • 11.
    PELVIC ADHESIOLYSIS Aim at both patency [anatom] and potency [physiolo] of the tube.  PATENCY: HSG, chromopertubation, sonosalpingography  POTENCY: HSG !!!, salpingoscopy.  Safe adhesiolysis  Always remember the rule of 6  Do the procedure day 6-10 postmenstural.  6 eyes: “3” surgeons should decide whether to do or not to do.  When ooze occurs apply pressure for at least 6 minutes.  If not pregnant within 6 months: ART is an option.  Always fill the DP by about 600 mL of saline at the end of procedure.
  • 13.
    OVARIAN CYST Every possible step to avoid:  A cyst that would disappear spontaneously !!!!!  A cyst that would bring up more complications!!!!!  Malignant cyst. Dermoid cyst.  Every effort to avoid reduced ovarian reserve.  Every effort to avoid postoperative adhesions.
  • 14.
    PREOPERATIVE EVALUATION The goal of preoperative evaluation is to identify and modify risk factors that might adversely effect anesthetic care and surgical outcome.  Up to 50% of patients presenting for elective surgery are regarded as “healthy.”  A patient presenting without established medical diagnoses is not necessarily healthy
  • 15.
     Preoperative evaluationshould seek to determine absolute contraindications to laparoscopy.  Poor risk for general anesthesia  Inability to tolerate pneumoperitoneum  Uncorrectable coagulopathy
  • 16.
     History ofcardiopulmonary disease  Risk of pregnancy  History of previous abdominal operations  History of abnormal bleeding  Difficulty with prior anesthetics
  • 17.
     Assessment ofthe head and neck  Assessment of lungs and heart.  Assessment of the abdomen (including surgical scars).  Assessment of neurologic & vascular systems.  Vital signs.
  • 18.
    Diagnostic studies shouldbe performed on a selective basis.  Hemoglobin (Hg): Indicated if significant blood loss may be expected from the operation. Anemia may be sought in women with heavy menstrual bleeding.  Coagulation profile: While routine screening is not useful, PT and PTT should be checked in patients with a personal or family history of abnormal bleeding.  Serum electrolytes: Routinely check electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine for patients with diarrhea, renal disease, liver disease, or diabetes as well as for those receiving diuretics.  Liver function tests are indicated for patients with known liver disease.  Chest X-ray (CXR): Routine CXR is rarely helpful for abdominal laparoscopy,  Electrocardiogram (EKG): reserved for women older than 50, particularly those with other risk factors such as Hypertension, obesity, or diabetes.  Pregnancy test: Indicated in female patients of childbearing age.  Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis testing is not indicated.
  • 19.
    Two years before • Prepare yourself, your team and the OR. One week before • Indication. • Contraindication. • Counseling. • Timing One day before • Patient instructions. Day “0” • Check the OR. • Check the team.
  • 20.
    THE DAY BEFORE(DAY -1)  Inform an experienced anesthesiologist.  Tell the patient to have full fasting for 8 hours.  Patient should clean her umbilicus and panniculus well.  If expecting difficult adhesiolysis, bowel preparation is done.  Management of patients’ baseline medications and special surgery-related medications as well as day of surgery instructions  Sleep well !!!!!!.  TAKE CARE: Ergonomic study among laparoscopic surgeons showed 87% experienced musculoskeletal symptoms (neck ache, back pain, elbow pain, wrist pain and finger numbness) occasionally or often during their operating sessions, and 59% experienced neurological symptoms (headache and eyestrain) occasionally or often.
  • 21.
    Two years before • Prepare yourself, your team and the OR. One week before • Indication. • Contraindication. • Counseling. • Timing One day before • Patient instructions. Day “0” • Check the OR. • Check the team.
  • 22.
    THE DAY OFSURGERY DAY (0)  Consent and documentation.  Check for instrumentation before patient gets in. Any failure counts only against you. !!!!!!!  Be near to a conventional surgery theatre -just in case- !!!  IV 1gm of prophylactic antibiotic 0.5 hour before anesthesia.  To be repeated at one hour interval during surgery.  Put in mind the concept of anticoagulation if surgery lasts > 30 minutes. Extended laparoscopic surgery is classified as moderate risk.
  • 23.
    OBESE PATIENT There is no absolute contraindication.  Additional preoperative testing/information: EKG, CXR, Attempted weight loss preoperatively, even if minimal, Cardiac and pulmonary testing as indicated in those with cardiac or pulmonary comorbidities.  Special issues for the informed consent:  Increased chance of conversion to open laparotomy.  Additional ports may be required to obtain adequate exposure.  Prepare Extralong ports, trocars, and instruments may be needed.
  • 24.
     Additional preoperativemedical/anesthesia planning:  Standard risk evaluation should be performed.  Complete muscle relaxation. The degree to which the abdominal wall is elevated in response to the pneumoperitoneum is maximized if the abdominal wall muscles are relaxed.  Unique OR equipment or staffing:  Increased OR time. Laparoscopic surgery in the morbidly obese patient often requires additional OR time.  Special large-size OR table.  Foot boards and safety straps to avoid shifting during intraoperative positioning.  Special instruments.  Additional ports for exposure.  Postoperative “Big Boy Bed.”
  • 25.
    PREGNANT PATIENT The pregnant patient may develop appendicitis, cholecystitis, torsion of the ovary, or a number of other problems that may require urgent or emergent surgery.  Due to an increased risk of preterm delivery (<37 weeks estimated gestational age), every effort should be made to postpone surgery until after delivery of the fetus, except for emergent indications.  When surgery is necessary in this population, minimally invasive methods can be used.  Most authorities recommend avoidance of pneumoperitoneum and laparoscopy until the second trimester for indicated nonemergent operations.  It is important to avoid manipulation of the uterus during surgery, which can induce preterm labor.
  • 26.
     Additional preoperativemedical/anesthesia planning:  Avoid fetal acidosis.  Keep end-tidal CO2 between 25 and 33 by changing minute ventilation.  Consider arterial blood gas monitoring.  Special anesthetic precautions should be used to avoid aspiration and hypotension.  Special issues for the informed consent:  Increased chance of conversion to open laparotomy.  The risks relating to surgery during the first trimester include teratogenesis and a miscarriage rate of approximately 12%.  The possibility of damaging the gravid uterus with laparoscopic instruments, ports, or trocars.
  • 27.
     Planned alterationsfrom the standard laparoscopic approach:  Minimize operative time so that fetal acidosis is minimized.  Solicit the most senior assistant available even for a “minor” case.  Minimize pneumoperitoneum pressures to the 10– 12mmHg level.  Elevation of the patient’s right side during positioning to avoid inferior vena cava compression by the gravid uterus.  Use angled laparoscopes to facilitate seeing around the uterus.  Maternal monitoring with end-tidal CO2
  • 28.
    WISHING YOU HAPPYAND SUCCESSFUL LAPAROSOCPIC PROCEDURE THANK YOU