Minimally Invasive or laparoscopic surgery eliminates the need for a large incision. Instead, five to seven small incisions are created, a camera and instruments are introduced into the abdominal cavity and the procedure is performed.
Advantages of the laparoscopic approach include:
- Less pain which leads to decrease requirement of pain medication and earlier return of bowel function.
- Earlier mobility whereby patients are ambulating the day of surgery which decreases the risk of deep venous thrombosis (clots in the lower extremities) and atelectasis (collapse of part of the lung) that can lead to lung infections.
Why would I have an open procedure?
Although the laparoscopic approach is feasible in 99% of the cases, in some patients this minimally invasive approach cannot be used. Some reasons are listed below:
- Prior abdominal surgery that has caused dense scar tissue
- Inability to see the organs
- Bleeding problems during the operation
The decision to perform the open procedure is a judgment call made by your surgeon either before or during the actual operation and is based on patient safety.