This content has been prepared in compliance with relevant laws including the Medical Act.
If you are considering laparoscopic surgery, there is something you must check first. Rather than 'Does the hospital have laparoscopic equipment?', the key question is 'Does it have both the equipment and surgical experience, as well as a comprehensive pre- and post-operative intensive care system?' This is because the environment surrounding the surgery, rather than the surgery itself, determines safe recovery.
How to choose an animal hospital in Busan that can perform laparoscopic surgery?
Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure performed by inserting a camera and surgical instruments through small openings. This requires both dedicated equipment and trained surgical personnel who can handle it, and a 24-hour intensive care system before and after surgery must be in place for safe recovery. In an expert contribution to Health Trend Pet Health Story, it is explained that the safety of laparoscopic surgery is not just equipment alone, but is ensured when medical staff competence and post-operative management systems work together.
There is one more important criterion when choosing an animal hospital in Busan that can perform laparoscopic surgery. Whether the hospital can immediately respond if the situation changes during surgery and conversion to open surgery becomes necessary. It is a principle to confirm in advance whether the hospital has a surgical system capable of performing both laparoscopic and open surgery.
Q. Are all animal hospitals that perform laparoscopic surgery at the same level? A. It is difficult to judge based solely on laparoscopic equipment. It is important to check whether there is a system connecting pre-operative precise imaging evaluation, anesthesia risk assessment, intra-operative monitoring, and post-operative hospitalization management.
What is laparoscopic surgery for pets — when and in what cases is it chosen?
Laparoscopic surgery is not simply a 'less painful surgery,' but rather a surgical method with a clearly defined scope of application. According to Health Trend Pet Health Story, laparoscopy is currently applied to spaying (ovarian removal) in female animals, cryptorchid extraction, cholecystectomy, intra-abdominal organ biopsy, and adrenal and kidney tumor removal, with its application range expanding to increasingly complex organ surgeries.
Major application range of laparoscopic surgery and comparison with open surgery
| Category | Laparoscopic Surgery | Open Surgery |
|---|---|---|
| Incision size | 5-10mm small incision | Several cm or more incision |
| Pain | Relatively low | Relatively high |
| Risk of infection and adhesion | Low | Relatively high |
| Recovery period | Short | Relatively long |
| Applicability | Limited depending on individual condition | Applicable in most situations |
| Possibility of conversion to open surgery | May occur depending on intra-operative situation | Not applicable |
In an expert contribution from Health Trend, it is noted that pain from laparoscopic surgery is approximately 65% lower compared to open surgery, and in cases of cholecystectomy, the procedure is performed with 5-10mm small incisions, with low risk of adhesion and infection, and discharge within a few days is possible. (See related contribution)
However, not all pets are candidates for laparoscopic surgery. The health status before surgery, the characteristics of the disease, and the individual's ability to tolerate anesthesia must first be carefully evaluated, and this process is the key stage in determining the safety of surgery.
Major confirmation items before laparoscopic surgery
• Confirmation of applicable condition (spaying, cryptorchidism, gallbladder, biopsy, tumor, etc.) • Anesthesia risk assessment (blood test, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, etc.) • Pre-operative understanding of intra-abdominal status through precise imaging diagnosis • Prior notice regarding possibility of conversion to open surgery during procedure • Confirmation of post-operative hospitalization management and 24-hour monitoring system
Approach to laparoscopic surgery at 24H UN animal medical center — from diagnosis to post-operative care
Since its opening in 2016, the 24H UN animal medical center in Dae-yeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, has been operating 365 days, 24 hours a day year-round, connecting precise pre-operative evaluation through post-operative ICU intensive care in one space through university hospital-level imaging diagnostic equipment, including laparoscopy, and an inter-disciplinary consultation system.
The safety of laparoscopic surgery depends as much on the diagnostic, evaluation, and post-operative management system surrounding the surgery as on the surgery itself. The 24H UN animal medical center prepares and manages surgery according to the following stages.
Before surgery • Pre-operative assessment of intra-abdominal status through university hospital-level imaging diagnosis including digital X-ray, precision ultrasound, and dental CT • Precise anesthesia risk assessment including blood test and electrocardiogram • Surgical planning through inter-disciplinary consultation in surgery, internal medicine, and imaging medicine
During surgery • Minimally invasive surgery using dedicated laparoscopic equipment • Continuous monitoring of vital signs and anesthetic state during surgery • Immediate response to conversion to open surgery depending on situation (parallel surgical system operation)
After surgery • Connection to emergency surgery and ICU intensive care 365 days, 24 hours a day, year-round • On-site veterinarian monitoring during hospitalization and intensive fluid and oxygen therapy • Post-discharge follow-up management and re-consultation (may vary depending on individual recovery status)
Is laparoscopic surgery okay for my pet? — conditions that pet guardians should verify on their own before surgery
Laparoscopy is not always the better choice in all cases. As clearly explained in an expert contribution from Health Trend, in cases accompanied by severe inflammation or rupture, open surgery may actually be the safer choice. What matters is not the superiority of surgical approach, but the safety of the individual.
Before visiting, organizing the following checklist about your pet's condition in advance will make consultation with the veterinarian much smoother.
Self-verification items for guardians before visiting
• Does the surgical purpose fall within the scope of laparoscopic application such as spaying, cryptorchidism, gallbladder, biopsy, or tumor? • Is there currently a severe inflammatory condition or suspected acute rupture situation? (→ High likelihood of open surgery) • Have there been recent blood tests or heart evaluations before anesthesia? • Is your pet elderly or does it have underlying conditions (heart, kidney, etc.) making anesthesia risk high? • Did you choose a hospital where post-operative hospitalization and 24-hour monitoring are possible? • Does the facility have a surgical system capable of immediate response if conversion to open surgery is necessary during the procedure?
The decision to proceed with laparoscopic surgery must be made together with a veterinarian after pre-operative status evaluation, and results may differ between individuals even with the same condition.
Centered on the 24H UN animal medical center in Dae-yeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, patients from regions including animal hospitals in Yeongdo-gu, Haeundae, Yeonje-gu, and Busanjin-gu, as well as from the Yangsan area, visit for laparoscopic surgery consultation. Choosing a facility with an established surgical system takes priority over travel distance.
For pet guardians considering laparoscopic surgery in Busan — what to check first
If you are planning laparoscopic surgery, please first confirm that the facility has not only the surgery itself but also a precise pre-operative evaluation and 24-hour intensive care environment after surgery. At the 24H UN animal medical center in Dae-yeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, we consult thoroughly with guardians and then determine the surgical method best suited for your pet together.
Laparoscopic surgery becomes a safe choice only when equipment, skilled surgical personnel, and ICU post-operative management operating 365 days, 24 hours a day are connected as one. Surgical suitability can only be confirmed through in-person consultation and precise evaluation, and accurate judgment is difficult through phone or online. Please have the veterinarian directly assess your pet's condition and have a thorough discussion. That conversation is the safest beginning of surgery.
Things pet guardians actually ask when facing laparoscopic surgery
Q1. Is laparoscopic surgery unconditionally safer than open surgery?
No, it is not. While laparoscopy has the advantages of small incisions and quick recovery, in cases accompanied by severe inflammation or rupture, open surgery may be the safer choice. Which approach is appropriate should be determined together with a veterinarian through pre-operative individual status evaluation, with patient safety as the standard rather than the superiority of the approach.
Q2. Can spaying surgery also be done laparoscopically? What's the difference from regular open surgery?
Spaying (ovarian removal) in female animals is one of the most commonly applied cases for laparoscopic surgery. Compared to open spaying, it has smaller incisions, lower pain, reduced risk of infection and adhesion, and faster recovery. However, the applicability of laparoscopy may vary depending on the individual's health status and anesthesia risk, requiring pre-operative evaluation.
Q3. How long is the recovery period after laparoscopic surgery? Are there precautions to take at home?
It varies depending on the individual's age, health status, and surgical site, but generally recovery is faster than open surgery. After discharge, restriction of vigorous activity, prevention of licking the surgical site, dietary management, and monitoring for abnormal symptoms (fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc.) are important. Be sure to follow the discharge instructions from the responsible veterinarian, and seek immediate care if any problems arise.
⚠️ This content complies with Article 32 of the Veterinary Medicine Act, and results may vary depending on circumstances.