Minimal Invasive and Laparoscopic Surgeries
WHAT IS LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY? Laparoscopic or “minimally invasive” surgery is a specialized technique for performing surgery. In the past, this technique was commonly used for gynecologic surgery and for gall bladder surgery. Over the last 10 years the use of this technique has expanded into intestinal surgery. In traditional “open” surgery the surgeon uses a single incision to enter into the abdomen. Laparoscopic surgery uses several 0.5-1cm incisions. Each incision is called a “port.” At each port a tubular instrument known as a trochar is inserted. Specialized instruments and a special camera known as a laparoscope are passed through the trochars during the procedure. At the beginning of the procedure, the abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide gas to provide a working and viewing space for the surgeon. The laparoscope transmits images from the abdominal cavity to high-resolution video monitors in the operating room. During the operation the surgeon watches detailed images of the abdomen on the monitor. This system allows the surgeon to perform the same operations as traditional surgery but with smaller incisions. In certain situations a surgeon may choose to use a special type of port that is large enough to insert a hand. When a hand port is used the surgical technique is called “hand assisted” laparoscopy. The incision required for the hand port is larger than the other laparoscopic incisions, but is usually smaller than the incision required for traditional surgery.
Minimal Invasive Surgery
Overview
In minimally invasive surgery, doctors use a variety of techniques to operate with less damage to the body than with open surgery. In general, minimally invasive surgery is associated with less pain, a shorter hospital stay and fewer complications.
Laparoscopy — surgery done through one or more small incisions, using small tubes and tiny cameras and surgical instruments — was one of the first types of minimally invasive surgery. Another type of minimally invasive surgery is robotic surgery. It provides a magnified, 3-D view of the surgical site and helps the surgeon operate with precision, flexibility and control.
Continual innovations in minimally invasive surgery make it beneficial for people with a wide range of conditions. If you need surgery and think you may be a candidate for this approach, talk with your doctor.
Types of minimally invasive surgery
Surgeons perform many minimally invasive surgeries, including:
. Adrenalectomy to remove one or both adrenal glands
. Anti-reflux surgery, sometimes called hiatal hernia repair, to relieve gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
. Cancer surgery, for example, to destroy a tumor
. Colectomy to remove parts of a diseased colon
. Colon and rectal surgery
. Ear, nose and throat surgery
. Endovascular surgery to treat or repair an aneurysm
. Gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy) to remove gallstones that cause pain
. Gastroenterologic surgery, including for gastric bypass
. Gst ynecologic surgery
. Heart surgery
. Kidney transplant
. Nephrectomy (kidney removal)
. Neurosurgery
. Orthopedic surgery
. Splenectomy to remove the spleen
. Thoracic surgery
. Urologic surgery