FLS MODULE 3 - BASIC LAPAROSCOPIC PROCEDURES
ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
● What are some of the newest developments in laparoscopic surgery?. Answer:
Robotic assistance, single port site procedures, Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic
Surgery (NOTES), and intrauterine fetal surgery
● List 5 laparoscopic procedures that are performed on newborn infants. Answer:
appendectomy, undescended testes, anti-reflux surgery, pectus repair, PDA, intestinal
atresia, pyloromyotomy, and surgery for Hirschsprung's disease
● Indications for diagnostic laparoscopy. Answer: elective - cancer staging, chronic
abdominal pain
● During what procedures could you inadvertently enter the peritoneal cavity and
subsquently need to perform a diagnostic laparoscopy?. Answer: hysteroscopy,
endoscopy
● Key elements of performing a lysis of adhesions. Answer: Use both blunt and sharp
dissection with gentle traction on tissue. Be cautious and sparingly use energy sources for
hemostasis to avoid thermal spread
● What is the best position for patients getting surgery on the upper abdomen?.
Answer: Arms on arm boards, reverse trendelenburg position with a footboard and safety
strap on lower thighs to keep patient from sliding. Monitors placed at head of table for viewing
operative field.
● What is the key to patient positioning? Where would you place your initial port for a
diagnostic lap where you need to view the entire abdomen? After your initial port,
where do you place additional ones?. Answer: Maximize the ergonomics of the surgeon
and assistant. Usually initiate access in LUQ and 2 additional ports can also be placed in the
left abdomen (then surgeon and assistant can stand on left side together). This allows the
entire abdomen to be visualized except for immediately below the ports or lateral to the ports.
● General principles of diagnostic lap of the liver. Answer: Angled scope
, ● What degree scope should you use?. Answer: To look for evidence of post-op bleeding,
adhesions, hernia or tumor.
● Best position and port placement for diagnostic pelvic laparoscopy. Answer: - Tucked
arms so surgeon can be ergonomically favorable.
● Diagnostic lap for suspected appendicitis. Answer: - Left arm tucked, allowing surgeon
and assistant to stand on left side.
● What are the anatomic landmarks or the beginning and end of the small bowel?.
Answer: LUQ at ligament of Treitz to RLQ at ileocecal valve
● Why would you want to have 2 monitors for a diagnostic laparoscopy of the small
bowel. Answer: Because the small bowel spans the entire abdomen both LUQ and RLQ so
surgeon and assistant need to stand on both sides of the table (as opposed to some surgeries
like appy where both surgeons stand on patient's left and operate on patient's right).
● In reference to the location next to the patient, what are the best positions for the
monitors in laparoscopy?. Answer: Best monitor positions are by patient's left shoulder and
right hip.
● Ports all on left side of abdomen in a line. Answer: How do you "run the bowel"
laparoscopically?
● - Usually requires changing camera angle several times.. Answer: Tips to avoiding
enterotomy when "running the bowel" in laparoscopy?
● - Keep instruments in view at all times.. Answer: Where should you start "running the
bowel" if you have a small bowel obstruction?
● - Manipulate any dilated bowel with EXTREME caution. Answer: How do you position
the patient for visualizing retroperitoneal structures below the aortic bifurcation?
● Arms out at sides. Answer: How do you position the patient for visualizing retroperitoneal
structures above the aortic bifurcation or to see the spleen?
● - Often have to mobilize the colon to see the kidneys and adrenal glands and
para-aortic lymph nodes.. Answer: What structures do you need to watch out for when doing
surgery in the retroperitoneal space in the pelvis?
● incise the overlying peritoneum ureters, urinary bladder, spermatic cord or nerves
such as: obturator, gen fem, lateral fem cutaneous. Answer: What are key elements for
performing a diagnostic lap for trauma?
ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
● What are some of the newest developments in laparoscopic surgery?. Answer:
Robotic assistance, single port site procedures, Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic
Surgery (NOTES), and intrauterine fetal surgery
● List 5 laparoscopic procedures that are performed on newborn infants. Answer:
appendectomy, undescended testes, anti-reflux surgery, pectus repair, PDA, intestinal
atresia, pyloromyotomy, and surgery for Hirschsprung's disease
● Indications for diagnostic laparoscopy. Answer: elective - cancer staging, chronic
abdominal pain
● During what procedures could you inadvertently enter the peritoneal cavity and
subsquently need to perform a diagnostic laparoscopy?. Answer: hysteroscopy,
endoscopy
● Key elements of performing a lysis of adhesions. Answer: Use both blunt and sharp
dissection with gentle traction on tissue. Be cautious and sparingly use energy sources for
hemostasis to avoid thermal spread
● What is the best position for patients getting surgery on the upper abdomen?.
Answer: Arms on arm boards, reverse trendelenburg position with a footboard and safety
strap on lower thighs to keep patient from sliding. Monitors placed at head of table for viewing
operative field.
● What is the key to patient positioning? Where would you place your initial port for a
diagnostic lap where you need to view the entire abdomen? After your initial port,
where do you place additional ones?. Answer: Maximize the ergonomics of the surgeon
and assistant. Usually initiate access in LUQ and 2 additional ports can also be placed in the
left abdomen (then surgeon and assistant can stand on left side together). This allows the
entire abdomen to be visualized except for immediately below the ports or lateral to the ports.
● General principles of diagnostic lap of the liver. Answer: Angled scope
, ● What degree scope should you use?. Answer: To look for evidence of post-op bleeding,
adhesions, hernia or tumor.
● Best position and port placement for diagnostic pelvic laparoscopy. Answer: - Tucked
arms so surgeon can be ergonomically favorable.
● Diagnostic lap for suspected appendicitis. Answer: - Left arm tucked, allowing surgeon
and assistant to stand on left side.
● What are the anatomic landmarks or the beginning and end of the small bowel?.
Answer: LUQ at ligament of Treitz to RLQ at ileocecal valve
● Why would you want to have 2 monitors for a diagnostic laparoscopy of the small
bowel. Answer: Because the small bowel spans the entire abdomen both LUQ and RLQ so
surgeon and assistant need to stand on both sides of the table (as opposed to some surgeries
like appy where both surgeons stand on patient's left and operate on patient's right).
● In reference to the location next to the patient, what are the best positions for the
monitors in laparoscopy?. Answer: Best monitor positions are by patient's left shoulder and
right hip.
● Ports all on left side of abdomen in a line. Answer: How do you "run the bowel"
laparoscopically?
● - Usually requires changing camera angle several times.. Answer: Tips to avoiding
enterotomy when "running the bowel" in laparoscopy?
● - Keep instruments in view at all times.. Answer: Where should you start "running the
bowel" if you have a small bowel obstruction?
● - Manipulate any dilated bowel with EXTREME caution. Answer: How do you position
the patient for visualizing retroperitoneal structures below the aortic bifurcation?
● Arms out at sides. Answer: How do you position the patient for visualizing retroperitoneal
structures above the aortic bifurcation or to see the spleen?
● - Often have to mobilize the colon to see the kidneys and adrenal glands and
para-aortic lymph nodes.. Answer: What structures do you need to watch out for when doing
surgery in the retroperitoneal space in the pelvis?
● incise the overlying peritoneum ureters, urinary bladder, spermatic cord or nerves
such as: obturator, gen fem, lateral fem cutaneous. Answer: What are key elements for
performing a diagnostic lap for trauma?
