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 gall bladder surgery. Over the last 10 years, the use of this technique has expanded into intestinal surgery. In traditional “open” surgery Dr. Bhushan Chittawadgi uses a single incision to enter 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, Dr. Bhushan watches detailed images of the abdomen on the monitor. This system allows Dr. Bhushan to perform the same operations as traditional surgery but with smaller incisions.
In certain situations, Dr. Bhushan Chittawadgi 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.
How is Laparoscopic Surgery done?
Before this system came along, a surgeon who operated on their patient’s belly had to make a cut that was 6-to-12 inches long. That gave them enough room to see what they were doing and reach whatever they had to work on.
In laparoscopic surgery, Dr. Bhushan Chittawadgi makes several small cuts. Usually, each one is no more than a half-inch long. (That’s why it’s sometimes called keyhole surgery.) They insert a tube through each opening, and the camera and surgical instruments go through those. Then the surgeon does the operation.
Benefits of Laparoscopic Surgery:
Working this way has several advantages compared with traditional surgery. Because it involves less cutting:
- You have smaller scars.
- You get out of the hospital quicker.
- You’ll feel less pain while the scars heal, and they heal quicker.
- You get back to your normal activities sooner.
- You may have less internal scarring.
Here’s an example. With conventional methods, you might spend a week or more in the hospital for intestinal surgery, and your total healing might take 4 to 8 weeks. If you have laparoscopic surgery, you might stay only 2 nights in the hospital and recover in 2 or 3 weeks. And a shorter hospital stay generally costs less.
Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery:
In some operations, Dr. Bhushan Chittawadgi can put the camera and the surgical tool through the same opening in the skin. This means less scarring. But it’s trickier for the surgeon because the instruments are so close together.
In other cases, the surgeon may decide to use a device that lets them reach in with a hand. This is called “hand-assisted” laparoscopy. The cut in the skin has to be longer than a half-inch, but it still can be smaller than in traditional surgery. This has made it possible to use laparoscopic surgery for the liver and other organs.
How do Robots help?
Technology can help the medical team be precise. In the robotic version of laparoscopic surgery, Dr. Bhushan Chittawadgi first cuts into the skin and inserts the camera. Instead of taking hold of the surgical instruments, they set up a robot’s mechanical arms. Then they move to a computer nearby.
A lot of surgeons think robotic surgery is especially helpful for operating on people who weigh a lot, and for gynecology and urology surgery. Most prostate removal operations use robots.
With robotic surgery, the monitor gives a 3-D, high-resolution, magnified image inside the body. As surgeons watch the screen, they use hand controls to operate the robot and surgical instruments. This lets Dr. Bhushan be more exact, and it can mean less impact on your body and less bleeding. You may also have less discomfort after the operation.
Talk To Dr. Bhushan Chittawadgi:
Dr. Bhushan Chittawadgi is a consultant and an Advanced Laparoscopic, Gastro, and GI Cancer Surgeon practicing at Hosmat Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka. He has more than 18 years of experience in the field of Laparoscopic GI & HPB Surgery making him one of the best laparoscopic surgeons in Bengaluru, Karnataka. He is specialized in Laparoscopic hernia surgery, Gall bladder stone, Obesity, liver and pancreas diseases, GI surgery, Piles, and Breast & Thyroid diseases.
If you are looking for the best laparoscopic surgeon call us at +91 89407 70990 or book an online appointment here.