What surgical technique is characterized as minimally invasive and uses a scope?

Laparoscopy is a surgical technique that is distinguished by its minimally invasive approach, which utilizes a scope, often called a laparoscope. This scope is a long, thin instrument equipped with a camera that allows surgeons to view the internal organs on a monitor, providing them with visual guidance during the procedure. The use of laparoscopy allows for smaller incisions compared to traditional open surgery, resulting in less postoperative pain, reduced recovery time, and a lower risk of complications.

In this technique, carbon dioxide gas is typically introduced into the abdomen to create a working space, which facilitates the surgery. Common procedures performed laparoscopically include gallbladder removal, appendectomies, and various types of hernia repairs, as well as many gynecological surgeries.

The other options do not primarily reflect a minimally invasive technique that uses a scope. Abdominal hysterectomy, for example, can be performed through larger incisions and is not exclusively minimally invasive. Cervical dilation is a procedure generally associated with preparing the cervix for a surgical procedure, while open surgery entails making larger incisions to access the surgical area directly. Thus, laparoscopy is the most fitting choice when describing a minimally invasive surgical technique that employs a scope.