How Is Minimally Invasive Surgery Performed?
Patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery will be given anesthesia to help them sleep throughout the procedure. The surgeon then inserts a scope through the body’s natural openings like the nostrils or mouth or tiny cuts in the body.
Some scopes have tiny surgical tools on the end, while others are flexible or stiff. The kind of scope used depends on the procedure. Examples of scopes include a colonoscope for procedures done inside the colon (colonoscopy), a laparoscope for surgeries inside the stomach (laparoscopic surgery) and a thoracoscope for procedures in the chest (thoracoscopic surgery).
The scope provides images of the inside structures of the body through monitors in the operating room to give surgeons a clear and magnified view of the surgical area. Depending on the procedure, the surgeon will insert special surgical tools and instruments through other small incisions to explore, remove or repair a problem inside the body.
During minimally invasive surgery, the surgeon might have to switch to open surgery if the problem differs from what the surgeon expected and may have to explore or operate directly on the surgical site.
What Are the Benefits and Risks of Minimally Invasive Surgery?
The benefits of minimally invasive surgery over traditional open surgery that can benefit patients include:
- Shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery times. Other minimally invasive procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis.
- Less pain and bleeding after the operation.
- Smaller scars due to reduced trauma on muscles and other tissue.
- Fewer complications.
As with any surgical procedure, minimally invasive surgery also has potential risks. In a laparoscopic procedure, doctors send carbon dioxide gas into the abdomen to expand the area for a better view and room to operate on the surgical site. They release the gas at the end of the procedure. Sometimes, small pockets of gas form and remain, which can irritate the diaphragm and cause shoulder pain that usually does not last more than one day.
Additionally, minimally invasive surgery, particularly robotic surgery, can be more complex than traditional open surgery and may take longer because the doctor needs direct access to the surgical site. Asking the following questions can help point you in the right direction:
- Is surgery a better option for me than medication or antibiotics?
- Is it a better option than open surgery for me?
- How long will I spend recovering from the surgery?
- How much pain will I feel after?
- Is it any more risky than open surgery for me?
- Is it a better solution or treatment for my condition?
Talk to your doctor to see if minimally invasive surgery is the best option for you. We’re here for you, always.