Anaesthesia for laparoscopy
General or local anaesthesia?
Laparoscopy is usually done under general anaesthesia, because otherwise the gas in the abdomen would make breathing difficult. Local anaesthesia is also not recommended because of the length and extent of the operations. Only for purely diagnostic laparoscopies, and sometimes for tubal ligation, can local anaesthesia with an additional sedative (locoregional analgesia) be given if you wish.
Even in this case, however, the anaesthetist is present, to give a general anaesthetic if any problem arises.
Medical content by the Fertility Clinic team