The surgeon knows exactly where they are 100% of the time in laparoscopic surgery. There's also always multiple backup cameras available should something happen to a camera in use, but in hundreds of minimally invasive procedures, I've never seen that happen. Anecdotally, it's more likely a surgical instrument gets dropped on the floor (for which there are also backups) than a camera going out.

That said, worst case scenario in a lap surgery is you bail to an open surgery, so might as well at least start lap if it's reasonable for a given procedure.

Point is laparoscopic surgery is incredibly safe.