Laproscopic Surgery

Laproscopic (Minimally Invasive) Surgery

With advances in technology it is now possible to perform many abdominal surgeries using laproscopic, or minimally invasive, techniques.  Many of the colon operations which used to require large midline incisions are now being performed by our practice using this laproscopic technique.  During this type of surgery a high definition camera and instruments are introduced into the abdomen through two or three incisions each less than a centimeter in size.  The portion of the bowel to be resected can be freed of its attachments and separated from the rest of the intestinal tract.  A small incision is required to retrieve the resected bowel from the abdomen and to allow reconnection of the two remaining ends.  This small incision is often placed just above the pubis (the bikini line) to make it even less noticeable.

Which patients are candidates for laproscopic surgery?

Patients with a variety of colon conditions are candidates to have their surgery laproscopically.  Laproscopy is a particularly good method for patients with diverticular disease and colon polyps or cancer.  Many patients with Crohn’s disease and some with ulcerative colitis are also excellent candidates.  Some patients with severe constipation who need a colectomy can also have this done laproscopically.  Patients who are known pre-operatively to have very large tumors or extreme bowel inflammation that may be adherent to other vital organs within the abdomen are probably best operated upon with a standard incision.  Also, patients who have had several previous abdominal operations may have too much scarring within the abdomen to allow for a laproscopic approach.

What are benefits of laproscopic surgery?

There is less cutting of the abdominal wall so the incisions are less painful and patients tend to recover quicker.  The scars are smaller and less noticeable. Because there is less manipulation of the bowel, many patients recover their bowel function more quickly after laproscopic surgery. This results in the ability to tolerate food sooner after surgery, permitting earlier release from the hospital. Studies show that patients who have had laproscopic surgery are discharged from the hospital one to two days faster than those having an open abdominal colon surgery.

Is laproscopic surgery safe?

All forms of surgery have their risks.  There are some particular risks of laproscopic surgery which the surgeon will discuss with the patient during the counseling session. Numerous studies have shown that the laproscopic technique is as safe as the standard open surgery.

In addition, patients with colon cancer have been found to have identical long term survival regardless as to whether their surgery was done open or laproscopically.

Laproscopic surgery at Fairfax Colon & Rectal Surgery

All of the surgeons in our practice are trained in and perform laproscopic colectomy on a regular basis. As the optics and instrumentation available have improved, we have been able to offer this option to a larger percentage of our patients.  We presently perform more minimally invasive colon surgeries than any practice in Northern Virginia.