LAPAROSCOPY

Laparoscopy is a scope procedure of the abdomen which is a type of minimally invasive surgery. These surgeries provide a higher level of comfort when compared to many traditional procedures. Laparoscopes use a telescoping rod and lenses that are attached to a camera and lights to view inside the body cavity. The best benefit to laparoscopic surgery is that surgeons can utilize much smaller incisions, meaning that your pet will experience less pain and discomfort. We have better visualization of the internal organs and reduce chances of hemorrhage when laparoscopes are used. Laparoscopic surgery is used for surgeries like routine spay surgeries, internal organ biopsies and Gastropexy which helps prevent “bloat” in large breed dogs.  Bloat or gastric torsion can be prevented by prophylactic surgery called Gastropexy using the endoscope to bring the stomach to the abdominal wall. This allows the surgeon to suture the stomach to the wall, which prevents any turning of the stomach within the abdominal cavity.

    Dr. Hodges obtaining liver biopsy with laparoscope.

Liver lobes for biopsy