Ambulatory surgery. Laparoscopic surgery

Laparoscopic surgery procedures have increased over the past decade and newer uses are being investigated. The major reasons for increased use of laparoscopic procedures include decreased pain, smaller incisions, and decreased length of hospital stay. Although the cost of hospital stay is decreased, there are increased costs associated with longer surgery time, increased anesthesia time, and additional equipment. Other drawbacks to the procedure are miniaturized instruments, decreased field of vision, inability to palpate tissue and organs directly, and necessary hand-eye coordination.