Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) employs new advanced techniques to perform operations through several small incisions in the skin. It involves the use of highly advanced techniques, camera or videoscope, fibre-optic lights and specialized instruments.
The instruments are inserted through these tiny openings, eliminating the need for a large, conventional incision. Carbon dioxide gas may be used to expand the body cavity, providing the surgeon with the space needed to perform the operation. When the operation is completed the gas is released and the instruments removed, leaving only a few small scars.
Also known as laparoscopic surgery and referred as keyhole surgery, MIS reflects less trauma to the body, less blood loss, smaller surgical scars and less need for pain medication. Patients leave the hospital sooner after minimally invasive surgery and return to normal activities sooner than with conventional open surgery.
The tiny incisions of minimally invasive surgery replace the long, traditional ones that often cut through large amounts of skin and muscle. The result is less post-operative pain and quicker recovery. Often the hospital stay is brief and patients can expect to return to their normal activities in a matter of days. Those undergoing similar "open" operations usually require more lengthy hospitalizations and much longer recovery periods. Smaller incisions also mean better cosmetic results and fewer wound complications.
Minimally invasive techniques are available in most surgical specialties, including operations on the abdomen, chest, pelvis and spine.
Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures
The following are some of the types of minimally invasive surgical procedures.
Gastroenterologic and General Surgery
- Anti-reflux
- Laparoscopic adrenalectomy
- Laparoscopic appendectomy
- Laparoscopic bariatric surgery
- Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy
- Laparoscopic esophagectomy
- Laparoscopic femoral hernia repair
- Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery
- Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair
- Laparoscopic lymph node biopsy
- Laparoscopic procedure for liver cysts
- Laparoscopic procedure for selected stomach tumors
- Laparoscopic splenectomy
- Laparoscopic treatment for large bowel tumors
- Laparoscopic treatment for small bowel tumors
- Laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair
- Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair
- Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy
- Myotomy
- Repair of hiatal hernias
Gynecologic Surgery
- Complete evaluation of irregular vaginal bleeding
- Endometrial ablation for excessive menstruation
- Hysteroscopic excision of submucosal fibroids
- Hysteroscopic polypectomies
- Hysteroscopic sterilization (no incisions)
- Laparoscopic hysterectomies
- Laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for cervical and uterine cancer
- Laparoscopic/hysteroscopic removal of fibroids
- Laparoscopic removal of benign ovarian cysts
- Laparoscopic repair of vesical vaginal fistulas
- Laparoscopic treatment of pelvic endometriosis
- Robotic surgery
- Uterine artery embolization (UAE) for fibroids
Orthopedic Surgery
- Arthroscopy of most joints
- Carpal tunnel release
- Endoscopic spine surgery
- Fractures of the pelvis
- Hip replacement
- Minimally invasive spine fixations, decompression techniques
- Periarticular and intraarticular fractures of the lower extremity
- Release of joint contractures
- Rotator cuff repair
- Shoulder instability repair
- Thermal ablation of benign bone tumors
- Treatment of early joint arthritis
- Unicompartmental knee replacement
- Vertebroplasty
Other Specialities include Heart Surgery, Colon and Rectal Surgery, Neurosurgery, ENT, Thoracic Surgery, Urology, Vascular Surgery
