Laparoscopy is commonly known as “keyhole surgery”.  It involves direct visualization of the abdominal and pelvic organs using a an optical scope in a space distended by the infusion of gas.

The laparoscope is a long thin instrument with a light source at its tip, to improve visibility. Fibreoptic fibres carry images from a lens, also at the tip of the instrument, to a video monitor, which the surgeon...