Minimally invasive surgery, sometimes called keyhole surgery, is a surgical approach used for a number of diseases and conditions. In minimally invasive surgery, the surgeon operates through one or more small incisions. This differs from open surgery, where surgeons make large cuts through skin and muscle and even bone. In minimally invasive surgery, a long thin tube with a camera attached to it is passed through a small incision. The image is then displayed on a monitor that allows the surgeon to accurately view the area to be operated on. Very fine surgical instruments are then passed through the original incision or through other small incisions. There are a number of advantages to this type of surgery.
Hospital Stay
According to the Mayo Clinic, many minimally invasive procedures are done on an outpatient basis, which means the patient can go home the same day surgery was performed. In some cases, a patient may require an overnight hospital stay. This largely depends on the nature of the operation. Faster hospital discharge allows the patient to get back to her normal life as soon as possible.
Postoperative Pain
Minimally invasive surgery is also associated with less post-operative pain than open surgery. This is partly because smaller incisions are made but also because adhesions are less likely to occur. According to University College London Institute of Child Health, adhesions occur when internal organs stick together and create bands of scar tissue. These bands of scar tissue can be painful and can affect both children and adults.
Scarring
Because minimally invasive surgery involves making incisions as small as 5mm to 10mm in length, there is less scarring compared to open surgery. In some cases, there is no scarring after surgery. This is particularly true when surgery is performed though the belly button, which may be carried out to remove the gall bladder or appendix.
Outcomes
According to the Mayo Clinic, minimally invasive surgery may also offer better overall outcomes than open surgery. A study carried out by the University of Leeds found that bowel cancer patients who underwent minimally invasive surgery had fewer complications after surgery. However, the study's lead investigator admitted that only patients that received an early diagnosis and who had few other health problems were more likely to be treated with keyhole surgery, which may partly explain the improved outcomes seen.
