Answer box: A laparoscopic surgeon operates through small cuts using a thin camera and fine instruments, so you recover faster than after open surgery. Dr Raman Garg, laparoscopic surgeon and surgical gastroenterologist at Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute in Bathinda, Punjab, India, has done 10,000+ laparoscopic surgeries, including 1,000+ hernia repairs, and performs all keyhole gut and belly surgeries here.
What is laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, in plain words?
In open surgery, the surgeon makes one long cut to reach the organ. In laparoscopic surgery, he makes a few small cuts, each about the size of a button hole to a fingertip. Through one cut goes a thin tube with a camera. Through the others go slim instruments. The belly is gently filled with a harmless gas so there is room to see. The camera shows the inside on a screen, and the surgeon works watching that screen.
People search for this as keyhole surgery, laparoscopy, dur-bin wali surgery or kam cheera wali operation. All mean the same thing. A laparoscopic surgeon is also called a minimally invasive surgeon or, when he works on the gut, a laparoscopic gastro surgeon.
Dr Raman Garg is a surgical gastroenterologist, meaning a stomach, gut, liver, gallbladder and pancreas specialist who also operates. One doctor decides whether you need medicines, a scope test or surgery, and does it.
Which surgeries Dr Raman Garg does by keyhole
| Surgery | Why it is done | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Gallbladder removal | Gallstones, repeated gallbladder pain, infection | Gallbladder removal surgery |
| Appendix removal | Appendicitis | Appendicitis surgery |
| Hernia repair | Groin, belly wall and other hernias | Hernia surgery |
| Hiatal hernia and reflux surgery | Severe acid reflux not controlled by medicines | Hiatal hernia treatment |
| Intestinal obstruction | Blocked gut from scar bands and other causes, where suitable | Intestinal obstruction surgery |
| Colon and stomach cancer | Removal of growths in selected cases | Colon cancer surgery, stomach cancer surgery |
| Other GI cancers | Rectum, pancreas and liver, where suited | GI cancer surgery |
For hernia, the full details are on our dedicated site: laparoscopic hernia surgery in Punjab.
Not every problem needs an operation, and not every operation is done by keyhole. Piles, fissure and fistula are usually treated by other methods. See piles treatment.
Symptoms and when to see a laparoscopic surgeon
See a surgeon when you have:
- Pain in the upper right belly after fatty meals, with or without vomiting (possible gallstones)
- Pain that starts near the navel and moves to the lower right side, with fever or vomiting (possible appendicitis)
- A lump in the groin or belly that appears on standing or coughing (possible hernia)
- Burning in the chest and acid coming up for years despite medicines
- A belly that swells, with repeated vomiting and no motion
Red flags, go to a hospital the same day: sudden severe belly pain, pain with fever and yellow eyes, a hernia lump that becomes hard, painful and cannot be pushed back, repeated vomiting with a swollen belly, or vomiting blood. Call +91 82641-60001 and reach the nearest emergency room first.
Example: a 38 year old woman from Maur Mandi had pain under her right ribs after dinner for six months, and took painkillers each time. An ultrasound showed gallstones. She had a planned keyhole operation and was walking the same evening.
Why choose keyhole over open surgery?
| Point | Laparoscopic | Open surgery |
|---|---|---|
| Cuts | A few small cuts | One long cut |
| Pain after surgery | Usually less | Usually more |
| Walking | Most patients walk the same day | Often after a day or more |
| Going home | Discharge within 24 hours for most keyhole surgeries | Usually longer |
| Return to desk work | Often within about a week | Often several weeks |
| Equipment and cost | Needs special equipment; costs more | Costs less |
Keyhole is not always the right answer. If the case is complicated, or the view is not safe, the surgeon may switch to open surgery during the operation. That is a safety decision, not a failure, and you will be told about this possibility before surgery.
Who is not suited for keyhole
Dr Raman Garg may advise open surgery when there has been multiple earlier belly operations with heavy scarring, when a severe infection or leak has spread widely, when the patient is too weak to take the gas pressure safely, or when a cancer is too large to remove safely through small cuts. He decides after examination and scans, and explains why.
How Dr Raman Garg decides and prepares
He starts with examination and your reports. Tests are chosen to match the problem. Ultrasound and blood tests are usual. A CT scan or MRCP is added where needed, and these are arranged with trusted imaging partners in Bathinda, with reports reviewed by Dr Raman Garg the same day. Blood tests and ECG come before surgery.
| Test | Starting (Rs) | Average (Rs) | Maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPD consultation (also second opinion) | 500 | 700 | 1,000 |
| Ultrasound abdomen | 600 | 1,000 | 1,800 |
| Pre-operative blood tests, ECG and chest X-ray | 1,500 | 2,500 | 4,000 |
| CT scan abdomen | 3,500 | 6,000 | 9,000 |
| MRCP (bile duct and pancreas scan) | 4,000 | 7,000 | 12,000 |
Note: These are typical Punjab costs for 2026. The final cost may vary after Dr Raman Garg examines you, depending on the number of tests needed and your health.
The procedure step by step
- You get anaesthesia and sleep through the operation.
- The surgeon makes small cuts and fills the belly with gas to create room.
- The camera goes in, and the surgeon views your organs on a screen.
- He performs the operation with fine instruments, such as removing the gallbladder or appendix, or repairing a hernia.
- The gas is released and the cuts are closed with the stitchless technique using skin glue.
- You wake up, rest, and walk when advised.
Before and after: preparation and recovery
Preparation checklist: share all medicines, especially blood thinners and sugar medicines; keep nothing by mouth for 6 to 8 hours before surgery as advised; bring reports and your insurance card; arrange one family member to stay with you.
| When | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Day of surgery | Operation, rest, first walk and sips of water as advised |
| Within 24 hours | Most patients are discharged after keyhole surgery |
| Day 2 to 7 | Light food, short walks, simple dressing care; shoulder pain from the gas fades |
| Week 1 to 2 | Return to desk work for most patients; follow-up by phone or video |
| Week 3 to 6 | Heavier work and lifting restart, as advised by Dr Raman Garg |
Farmers and workers who lift heavy loads should wait longer, and this is set for each person. For more detail, read laparoscopic surgery benefits and recovery.
Risks and how they are handled
All surgery carries risk. In keyhole surgery these include bleeding, infection, injury to a nearby organ, a blood clot in the leg, a reaction to anaesthesia, a hernia at one of the cut sites, and the possibility of changing to open surgery. Careful patient selection, an experienced surgeon, clear viewing on the screen, early walking and close monitoring help reduce them. Dr Raman Garg explains the risks that apply to your operation before you sign consent. Laparoscopy is a safe and well-established method, but it is still surgery, and it should be done for a real reason.
Laparoscopic surgery cost in Punjab
| Surgery | Starting (Rs) | Average (Rs) | Maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laparoscopic gallbladder removal, planned | 40,000 | 65,000 | 1,00,000 |
| Laparoscopic gallbladder removal, difficult or after an attack | 60,000 | 90,000 | 1,40,000 |
| Laparoscopic appendix removal | 40,000 | 65,000 | 1,00,000 |
| Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, one side | 50,000 | 75,000 | 1,10,000 |
| Hiatal hernia repair with fundoplication (for severe reflux) | 90,000 | 1,30,000 | 2,00,000 |
| Colon cancer surgery (laparoscopic or open) | 1,00,000 | 1,80,000 | 3,00,000 |
Published ranges from Mohali and Chandigarh hospitals put gallbladder keyhole surgery at about Rs 40,000 to 90,000, and appendix keyhole surgery at about Rs 30,000 to 1,00,000. Metro hospitals often charge more. Keyhole costs more than open surgery because of equipment, but patients go home sooner and return to work earlier.
Note: These are typical Punjab costs for 2026. The final cost may vary after Dr Raman Garg examines you, depending on the type of surgery, whether there was an infection or attack, your age and other illnesses, and your health.
See all rates in gastro treatment cost in Bathinda.
Insurance and cashless
BGCI is empanelled with almost all major insurers and TPAs for cashless treatment, including Aditya Birla Health Insurance, Niva Bupa, Digit Insurance, Care Health Insurance, Vidal Health TPA, ICICI Lombard, Raksha TPA, Future Generali, SBI General Insurance, Oriental Insurance, Liberty General Insurance, IFFCO Tokio, Cholamandalam MS, Medi Assist TPA, and almost all other major insurers and TPAs. Ayushman Bharat: Call us with your card details and our insurance desk will tell you the same day how your card can be used.
- Send your policy details and reports on WhatsApp.
- The insurance desk checks your cover and arranges pre-authorisation.
- You get a clear estimate before admission.
- After discharge the desk completes the claim paperwork. See cashless insurance.
Facilities at BGCI
A modern laparoscopic operation theatre; an advanced endoscopy and colonoscopy suite; a fully equipped in-house diagnostic laboratory; comfortable patient rooms; 24/7 emergency care support; a cashless insurance desk; the stitchless laparoscopic technique with skin glue; same-day walking and discharge within 24 hours for most keyhole surgeries; one surgeon from consultation to follow-up; online pre-arrival consultation for out-of-town and NRI patients (share reports on WhatsApp); and follow-up by phone or video. See the gastro hospital in Bathinda.
Why patients choose Dr Raman Garg
- 20+ years of experience and 10,000+ laparoscopic surgeries, including 1,000+ laparoscopic hernia repairs.
- Training: MS General Surgery from Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana; DNB Surgical Gastroenterology from Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai; Fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery; advanced laparoscopy training in Seoul, South Korea. Member of IAGES and AMASI. See Dr Raman Garg.
- First surgical gastroenterologist in the Malwa belt of Punjab, with the same surgeon from first visit to follow-up.
- Honest advice: he tells you when you do not need an operation. See the gastro doctor in Bathinda.
Patients we see from your area
Patients travel from Goniana Mandi (12 km, 20 minutes), Rampura Phul (30 km, 40 minutes), Giddarbaha (45 km, 1 hour), Mansa (50 km, 1 hour), Malout (60 km, 1 hour 15 minutes) and across Punjab, India. See areas we serve.
How to book
- Call or WhatsApp +91 82641-60001 (or +91 99885-03800).
- Share your ultrasound or other reports on WhatsApp.
- Visit the OPD, Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM. Sunday is emergency only.
- Get your plan the same day. Book an appointment.
Address: Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute, Power House Road, Near Street No. 10, Bathinda, Punjab 151001, India. Email: bgcibathinda@gmail.com. Emergency care support 24/7 on +91 82641-60001.
This page is general information; your plan is set after Dr Raman Garg examines you.
Related pages
Gallstone treatment | Gallbladder removal surgery | Appendicitis surgery | Life after gallbladder removal | Gallbladder removal cost in Punjab | All gastro treatments
Medically reviewed by Dr Raman Garg. Last updated: 8 November 2026.