can crohns be seen during laparoscopy?

Just wondering because I have had one doc tell me that during my laparoscopy a week or so ago that they would have seen crohns if I had it because the outside of the bowel looks inflamed etc too? although she was wrong about some other stuff so not sure I believe her with this either..

thanks heaps in advance.. can't wait for my test results.. sounds weird eh that I almost kind of hope they DO show something just I get some answers and can start treatment.. and hopefully get rid of this pain.. I don't know how much more I can handle the sleeplessness I have with endone and tramadol:-(

thanks killcolitis

yeah.. I can understand that they could see it if it was badly ulcerated then they could see redness on the outside of the bowel? But if it's only 'mild' and in the small bowel as they suspect with me then I don't understand how they could see it from the outside .. I would have no hesitation believing her (she IS the docotr and trained after all and I'm not) but she's told me some other things that other doctors have disagreed with - namely that if I had crohns I would be very very sick and losing dramatic amounts of weight etc.. :-s

Post Edited (Leebie3) : 4/4/2012 6:35:45 PM (GMT-6)

Yeah, I would also think it's 50-50. They might be able to see it, but maybe not. I've had bowel surgery three times, each time the old-fashioned way (not laparoscopy). In all three cases the Crohn's was easy enough for the surgeon to see, but then again having the abdomen open meant the surgeon could touch it and move things around. One of the things Crohn's will do is to make part of the bowel thickened and thus hard to the touch. I'm not sure how visible that would be on the outside of the bowel. "Hands-on" has some advantages. Disadvantages too (longer recovery from surgery, greater chance of adhesions).

well after all my ops the drs always said it was very evident. but then again, im "special" .:O) .. like beave said it depends on the type of op and the surgeons experiance with the disease. i have had all open procedures just due to necessity, but for me thats the way to go.