Laparoscopic or Keyhole Surgery Information

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Definition of Keyhole Surgery

Keyhole surgery, laparoscopic surgery, minimally invasive surgery (MIS), and sometimes called bandaid surgery is a modern surgical technique in which operations in the abdomen are performed through small incisions (usually 0.5-1.5 cm) as compared to the larger incisions needed in laparotomy.

Today, many different types of operations can now be carried out using keyhole surgery. The advantages of this type of surgery include reduced length of time you need to stay in hospital, little scarring, and reduced pain due to smaller incisions and hemorrhaging. Although procedure times are usually slightly longer, hospital stay is less, and often with a same day discharge which leads to a faster return to everyday living.

There are two different formats for laparoscopic surgery.

Da Vinci System - Multiple incisions are required for technology such as the "Da Vinci" system, which uses a console located away from the patient, with the surgeon controlling a camera, vacuum pump, saline cleansing solution, cutting tools, etc. each located within its own incision site, but oriented toward the surgical objective. The surgeon uses controls to manipulate the devices.

Bonati System - In contrast, requiring only a single small incision, the "Bonati system" (invented by Dr. Alfred Bonati), uses a single 5-function control, so that a saline solution and the vacuum pump operate together when the laser cutter is activated. A camera and light provide feedback to the surgeon, who sees the enlarged surgical elements on a TV monitor. The Bonati system was designed for spinal surgery and has been promoted only for that purpose.

Many operations in different surgical specialties can now be performed using keyhole techniques. In general surgery a number of operations have become routine.

Keyhole Surgery Can be Used For:

• Obesity
• Gallstones
• Hernia repairs
• Excessive sweating
• Gall bladder removal
• Certain cases of hysterectomy
• Cruciate ligament replacement
• Appendix removal (appendectomy)

Your doctor or surgeon will be able to provide you with further advice about keyhole surgery and whether it's an option for your particular condition.

The process of minimally invasive surgery has been augmented by specialized tools for decades. In recent years, electronic tools have been developed to aid surgeons.

Some of the features include:

• Reduced number of incisions.
• Visual magnification - use of a large viewing screen improves visibility.
• Stabilization - Electromechanical damping of vibrations, due to machinery or shaky human hands.
• Simulators - use of specialized virtual reality training tools to improve physicians' proficiency in surgery.

Robotic surgery has been touted as a solution to underdeveloped nations, whereby a single central hospital can operate several remote machines at distant locations. The potential for robotic surgery has had strong military interest as well, with the intention of providing mobile medical care while keeping trained doctors safe from battle.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.