laparoskoop

A laparoskoop is the Dutch designation for a laparoscope, a slender, often fiber‑optic surgical instrument used in minimally invasive procedures called laparoscopy. The device allows a surgeon to view the abdominal or pelvic cavity on a video monitor while operating through small incisions. The laparoscope typically incorporates a light source, a camera sensor, and a series of optical fibers or a fiber‑optic bundle that transmits the image to a display. Some modern systems use high‑definition silicon detectors and provide a stereoscopic view with robotic assistance.

The concept of minimally invasive abdominal surgery was pioneered in the 1980s by German surgeons, with von Waldeyer and Berci’s early demonstrations. Since then, laparoscopy has expanded from diagnostic exploration to a wide array of therapeutic procedures, including appendectomies, cholecystectomies, gynecological surgeries, hernia repairs and bariatric interventions. The laparoskoop’s small diameter (usually 5–12 mm) reduces trauma and postoperative pain, promotes faster recovery, and shortens hospital stays compared to open surgery.

During a laparoscopic procedure, the surgeon inserts the laparoscope through a small port, insufflates the cavity with carbon dioxide to create working space, and then makes additional small incisions for instruments. The image captured by the laparoscope is transmitted in real time, allowing precise manipulation of organs and tissues. Common complications include bleeding, organ injury, gas embolism or postoperative infection, though the incidence of severe events remains low due to advances in technique and equipment.

Alternative views of the abdominal contents before the advent of the laparoskoop included exploratory laparotomy, which required a large incision, and the use of external ultrasound or fluoroscopy for imaging. Laparoscopes have also evolved into diagnostic tools used in laparoendoscopic single-site surgery, robotic laparoscopy, and single-incision robotic platforms that further reduce scarring and improve ergonomics.

References to medical literature, surgical textbooks and consensus guidelines substantiate the safety, efficacy and widespread adoption of the laparoskoop in contemporary practice.