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What a Laparoscopic Procedure Involves
A patient undergoing a laparoscopic procedure will usually
come to the hospital on the day of the procedure. Except in
unusual cases, the laparoscopy will be done in an operating
room with a general anesthetic. For that reason, the patient
will need to be fasting after midnight the night before the
procedure.
After the surgery, a patient spends 2-3 hours in the recovery
room and then goes to a hospital room. Most patients undergoing
diagnostic laparoscopy or hernia repair go home the same day.
Some patients undergoing gallbladder surgery also go home
the same day while other gallbladder patients will spend one
night in the hospital after the surgery. Most patients undergoing
surgery for reflux, splenectomy, or adrenalectomy will spend
one night in the hospital. Other types of surgery, particularly
laparoscopic surgery on the stomach or intestine will require
a 2-4 day stay in the hospital. However, after discharge home,
most patients find they feel better every day until they are
fully recovered. Although some patients require no pain medication
after going home, most patients require a few pain pills over
the first 2-3 days at home.
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