Can I really go home the same day after laparoscopic surgery?
Yes! Many laparoscopic procedures, such as gallbladder removal or appendectomy, can be
performed as day-surgery cases. You could have breakfast at home, undergo surgery in the
afternoon, and sleep in your own bed that night. However, more complex procedures may
require
overnight observation.
Why do my shoulders hurt after laparoscopic surgery?
This surprising side effect occurs because surgeons inflate your abdomen with carbon
dioxide gas
to create working space. The gas can irritate nerves that connect to your shoulder. The
good
news? This discomfort typically resolves within 24–48 hours as your body gradually absorbs
the
gas.
Is a robot actually performing my surgery?
No robot operates independently! Think of it as the world’s most sophisticated surgical
assistant—your surgeon controls every movement from a console, with the robot translating
those hand motions into extremely precise micro-movements.
Why does robotic surgery sometimes take longer than traditional surgery?
While the setup time may be longer, the actual surgical time is often shorter thanks to
enhanced
precision. Think of it like parallel parking: it might take a moment to align perfectly,
but then you
can park smoothly in one go instead of making multiple adjustments.
Can you really cure cancer by removing part of my intestine?
For localized gastrointestinal cancers detected early, surgery can indeed be curative—with
5-year
survival rates exceeding 90%. The key is catching cancer before it spreads, which is why
screening
tests like colonoscopy (recommended at age 45–50) are so important.
What's the difference between a tumor and cancer?
Not all tumors are cancerous! Tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant
(cancerous).
Benign tumors grow locally and don’t spread, while malignant tumors can invade nearby
tissues
and spread to other parts of the body.
Is liver surgery more dangerous than other surgeries?
When performed at experienced centers, liver surgery has complication rates comparable to
other
major surgeries (typically 2–5%). The key is choosing a surgeon who regularly performs
liver
surgeries—experience is especially important for complex liver procedures.
Can you transplant part of a liver from a living donor?
Yes! Living donor liver transplantation involves removing a portion of a healthy person’s
liver and
transplanting it into the recipient. Both the donor’s remaining liver and the transplanted
portion
regenerate to near full size within weeks.
Why is pancreatic surgery considered so challenging?
The pancreas is located deep in the abdomen, surrounded by major blood vessels, and it
produces
digestive enzymes that can cause complications if they leak. These anatomical and
biochemical
factors make pancreatic surgery technically demanding.
What exactly is removed during a Whipple procedure?
The Whipple procedure involves removing the head of the pancreas, part of the small
intestine
(duodenum), the gallbladder, part of the bile duct, and sometimes a portion of the stomach.
These
structures are then carefully reconnected—it's one of the most complex reconstructions
in
surgery.
Can you eat normally after having organs removed?
Most patients adapt remarkably well! After gallbladder removal, you might need to limit
fatty
foods for a short time. Following colon surgery, patients typically return to a normal
diet. The
human body is incredibly adaptable—remaining organs often compensate for those that have
been removed.
How long does pancreatic surgery actually take?
Simple procedures, like removing pancreatic cysts, may take 2–3 hours. More complex
surgeries,
such as the Whipple procedure, usually require 4–6 hours. In fact, the reconstruction phase
often
takes longer than the removal phase.
