laparoscopy vs laparotomy

[Sonia611]

After from husband's colonoscopy, (biopsy was negative from the minute they took)we were referred to a specialist since the 2 cm. polyps left were flat and it didn't inflate with the solution they put.  the specialist recommended laporoscopy surgery.  he said they can try polypectomy but he's not sure if he can get everything and will not damaged anything.  so he preferred laparoscopic surgery.   my question,  which is more used now in this case, laparoscopy or laparotomy?  thank you in advance.

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  Both laparoscopic surgery and laparotomy involve incisions on the abdominal wall in order to get to the organs inside the abdominal cavity.  The abdominal wall incision made  during laparoscopy is generally smaller than one made during laparotomy, since the incision only has to be big enough to admit the tubular laparoscope.  Both types of procedures have their own uses.  If the surgery which needs to be done is extensive, or if the tissue which needs to be excised is big, it might be better to resort to laparotomy.  The converse is also true.  For less extensive surgery, or a smaller lesion, laparoscopy may be a better choice, since the resulting surgery will be less morbid, and post-operative recovery would be faster.