4 Common Laparoscopic Surgeries

Laparoscopic surgery, also referred to as minimally invasive surgery, is surgery performed by using thin surgical instruments with the assistance of a video camera. This type of surgery is done by making small incisions (usually around half an inch or less) and placing small plastic tubes called ports into the incisions. These ports provide access for the video camera and surgical instruments. Because the surgeon cannot see directly into the body, the camera acts as the surgeon's eyes while the surgery is performed. There are many benefits to laparoscopic surgery. For one, the smaller incisions mean less post operative discomfort and faster recovery times, not to mention smaller scars. This also means shorter hospital stays and an earlier return to normal activities. Additionally, there may be less internal scarring than after traditional open surgery. Because of these advantages, more and more procedures are able to be done laparoscopically. The colon, rectum and pancreas are just a few of the areas that benefit from laparoscopic surgery. Hernias can be repaired and organs such as the spleen can be removed. Read on to learn more about some of the most commonly performed laparoscopic surgeries.

• Colon resection. Approximately 600,000 people undergo colon surgery each year to treat conditions and diseases such as polyps and tumors, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and diverticulitis. Invasive colon surgery usually requires an 8-day hospital stay and a 6-week recovery period. A colon resection done laparoscopically not only reaps all the general benefits of minimally invasive surgery but it also allows intestine function to normalize more quickly and a special diet is required for a much shorter period of time.
• Cholecystectomy. Commonly referred to as gallbladder removal surgery, laparoscopic cholecystectomy has an extremely high success rate with an extremely low complication rate. Where traditional, open gallbladder removal requires a hospital stay of up to five days, laparoscopic surgery patients can often go home as soon as the same day of surgery. Patients can shower the day after the procedure and are often back to work within seven to 10 days. The laparoscopic removal of the spleen and pancreas are very similar to the laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with low risks and shorter recovery times.
• Nissen fundoplication. This procedure was developed in 1951 by Dr. Rudolph Nissen to relieve chronic heartburn caused by weakness in the valve between the stomach and esophagus which allows stomach acid to be forced into the esophagus. Nissen fundoplication wraps the upper part of the stomach around the lower part of the esophagus, giving the weak valve the support it needs. This procedure traditionally required a six to 10-inch incision and a two-month recovery time. The laparoscopic version shortens that recovery time to only one or two weeks while of course, requiring a much smaller incision.
• Hernia repair. When a layer of the abdomen becomes torn or damaged, a hernia occurs and can appear as a bulge. There are several different types of hernias including congenital (a hernia you are born with), umbilical (near the belly button), inguinal (near the groin) and incisional (near a previous surgical incision). Hernias must be treated surgically and any delay in doing so puts a patient at risk for part of the intestine getting trapped in the hernia, cutting off blood flow to that part of the intestine. Surgeons such as those at

Bay Surgical Specialists can perform hernia repair laparoscopically, allowing patients to go home the same day and go back to regular activity within a week.

About the Author: Beth A. Stevens is a healthcare expert and contributing writer who enjoys helping patients learn about the benefits of minimally invasive surgery.

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