Facts Relating To Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery

By Edward Thomas


There is a major shift in the way in which surgeries are performed in the city of New York. Traditionally, the main objective of surgical operations was to get rid of the diseased part of the body or to restore normal function by any other means. There was little regard about the cosmetic effects these surgeries would have. Today, cosmetic appearance after surgery a lot more important. Single incision laparoscopic surgery is one of the approaches that are being adopted to address this need.

As the name suggests, this is minimally invasive type of surgery in which a single port of entry is used. This entry point is in most cases the navel of the patient. Like many other types of surgeries, this operation is done under general anesthesia. It is also known as single port laparoscopy (SPL) or single port access surgery (SPA). The traditional laparoscopic technique requires three separate incisions to be made.

The technique is used for a wide range of conditions. These include gall bladder removal (cholesystectomy), removal of the appendix, repair of hernias and in pelvic surgeries such as the removal of the uterus and the ovary. As it continues to gain acceptance in the community of surgeons, this list is bound to increase even further.

There are a number of benefits that are associated with using this technique. One of them is the fact that the recovery time is shorter. Most of the people that have been operated on can return to work in a week. With only one incision, the cosmetic results are a lot better than with conventional laparoscopic operations. The main disadvantage on the patient is that they may have to pay a little more mainly due to the high level of specialization.

The main challenge on the part of the surgeon is the difficult that is associated with moving the instruments around using the small opening. The crowding caused by the instruments obscures the surgical field. This increases the risk of intraoperative injury especially if the surgeon is not adequately experienced. In the ordinary laparoscopic operation each instrument has a different port hence easier to move around.

The option is not suitable for persons that are very obese, those with a history of other operations and those with a grossly enlarged abdominal organ. In the event that it is not possible to complete the operation using the single incision, an additional port will be created to proceed with the traditional approach. This happens in 5% to 10% of cases. The open technique may be required in rare circumstances.

There are risks that you need to be aware of even as you consider undergoing the operation. Bleeding and surgical site infections are the most frequently encountered but their incidence is far less than what is seen with the other methods. Incisional hernias are a common problem with open surgery but with this technique they are a rare occurrence.

This surgical technique has a wide range of applications. It is set to be the main technique in the management of pediatric and gynecological surgical problems. Many training institutions have now incorporated the practice into their curricula and plan to retrain specialist surgeons and residents.




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