Procedure prep
Keyhole (Laparoscopic) & Robotic Surgery
Laparoscopic ('keyhole') and robotic surgery use a few small cuts instead of one big one. The recovery is often quicker — but it is still real surgery under general anesthesia, so the preparation is the same as for any major operation.
Fasting for this procedure
→ Get your exact fasting times with the calculator
Medicines to check
- Blood thinners (aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto) — see medications to stop.
- Diabetes medicines & insulin — they need a plan. See diabetes tablets.
- GLP-1 (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro) — tell your team. See the GLP-1 guide.
- Blood pressure medicines — confirm which to take with a sip of water and which to hold.
When this surgery may be delayed
- Fever, a new cough/cold, or a chest infection
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Very high blood pressure or blood sugar
- You ate or drank outside your fasting window
Reports & documents to carry
- Photo ID and insurance card
- A written list of all your medicines and doses
- Any blood tests, ECG, or scans your team asked for
- Consent forms or referral letters, and allergy details
- Any scans (ultrasound, CT, MRI) for the area being operated on
What to ask your anesthesia team
- Will I have general anesthesia, spinal/regional, or sedation?
- Which medicines do I take or hold on the morning of surgery?
- When can I eat and drink afterward?
- Will I go home the same day, and who can drive me?
- Is there any chance it converts from keyhole to open surgery?
- Will I be tilted head-down (common for robotic pelvic surgery)?
Your prep checklist
Tick things off as you sort them — saved on this device only, nothing is sent anywhere.
A general guide — your hospital's own instructions always come first.
Frequently asked questions
Is laparoscopic surgery done under general anesthesia?
Almost always, yes. The abdomen is inflated with carbon-dioxide gas and you need to be fully asleep with your breathing controlled, so keyhole and robotic surgery use general anesthesia. That means you fast beforehand just like for open surgery.
Why does my shoulder hurt after keyhole surgery?
The carbon-dioxide gas used to create space can irritate the diaphragm, and that irritation is felt as aching in the shoulder tip for a day or two. It's very common and harmless — moving around, walking, and simple pain relief help it pass.
How is robotic surgery different for me as a patient?
For you, the preparation and anesthesia are essentially the same. The surgeon controls fine instruments from a console rather than holding them directly. Robotic pelvic surgery often needs you tilted steeply head-down while you're asleep, which your anesthesia team manages.
What if the surgeon needs to switch to open surgery?
Occasionally a keyhole operation is converted to an open one for safety — for example if the view is difficult or there's bleeding. You're already asleep, so nothing changes for you in the moment, but recovery may be a little longer. Your team will explain this possibility beforehand.