Laparoscopy, also referred to as 'keyhole' surgery, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure where the surgery is performed through very small incisions using specialised surgical instruments. One of the benefits of laparoscopic surgery is that it allows the surgeon to visualise the inside of the patient’s abdomen with exceptional clarity.

Laparoscopy is described as 'minimally invasive' because small incisions are used. This contrasts with traditional ‘open’ surgery, which requires large surgical incisions to be made to access the abdominal cavity. As a result of advances in medical science, technology and instrumentation, major procedures, which at one time could only be performed in the traditional way using large incisions, can now be performed using the laparoscopic approach.

Current medical literature confirms that laparoscopy provides significant benefits to patients and the wider community. In general, patients experience less postoperative pain and discomfort, have shorter hospital stays, have smaller surgical incisions, achieve a better aesthetic result with less scarring and a more rapid return to work and normal activities of daily living. These benefits are made possible because laparoscopy decreases the stress on the body and reduces trauma to internal organs, thereby facilitating early recovery. Laparoscopy is now the standard of care for many operations previously performed in the traditional ‘open’ fashion such as cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal).

Mr. Chang has successfully performed laparoscopic surgery on patients who would have been considered too high a risk to undergo traditional open surgery for reasons such as advanced age, obesity or other serious medical problems.

The estimated complication rate of laparoscopic urologic surgery is less than 5%. The most common risks include bleeding, infection, and injury to adjacent organs such as liver, bowel, spleen, pancreas and vascular structures. These complications can also occur with open surgery.

Although there are advantages for patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery in preference to open surgery, it can be technically more difficult to perform. As a result, laparoscopic surgery sometimes takes longer to carry out.

Occasionally, in less than 1% of cases, conversion from the laparoscopic operation to open surgery is sometimes necessary to safely complete the procedure.

Not all Urologists offer laparoscopy and it is well recognised that there is a steep learning curve in expertly performing laparoscopic urologic surgery. If you are considering laparoscopic surgery, it is important that your chosen specialist has undertaken specialised training, and/or a supervised fellowship in the technique.

Not all urologists offering laparoscopy are capable of performing advanced laparoscopic procedures such as laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (removing part of a kidney by keyhole). Mr. Chang is able to perform both common and advanced laparoscopic procedures including laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Not all urologists offering advanced laparoscopy are capable of performing this surgery through the patient's front (transperitoneal) or through the patient's back (retroperitoneal). The retroperitoneal approach enables patients who have had prior abdominal surgery to still have a laparoscopic operation which otherwise may not be possible through the front.