General surgery is the medical specialty of the surgical class encompassing operations on the digestive system, including the gastrointestinal tract, the hepato-bilio-pancreatic system, and the endocrine system, including the adrenal, thyroid, parathyroid, breast, and other glands included in the digestive system. It also includes the repair of hernias and eventrations of the abdominal wall.

In this sense, laparoscopy is the minimally invasive alternative to conventional open surgery, in which a small camera called a laparoscope is used to see inside the abdomen. It is performed through small holes in the abdominal cavity through which the laparoscope enters and transmits the image of the internal organs to a monitor, through which the surgeon can be guided to perform different surgical procedures. 

In addition to being a minimally invasive procedure, it reduces recovery time significantly compared to conventional surgery.