We can define Minimally Invasive Surgery, also called keyhole surgery, as the set of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques that by direct vision, or endoscopic, or by other imaging techniques, use natural routes or minimal approaches to introduce tools to treat different parts of the body.
Advantages of Minimally Invasive Surgery
The practice of Minimally Invasive Surgery presents a series of general advantages related to the technique and applicable to any procedure. In general, all procedures are supported by the reduction of secondary postoperative morbidity and in the reduction of the physiological response to surgical trauma.
In summary, the advantages of this type of surgery can be supported by the following points:
• Reduction of the systemic inflammatory response associated with surgery, and improvement in the immune response.
• Diminution of postoperative pain mainly due to limitation surgical incision length and the reduction of trauma in healthy tissues.
• Less complications in the surgical wound. The wounds have smaller diameters, so they heal quickly and rarely present major complications. In addition, it is important to highlight the “aesthetic” factor that these mini incisions entail.
• Decrease in the postoperative period and stay in the hospital. Consequently, we can reduce the associated costs and waiting lists.
Impact
Minimally Invasive Surgery emerges as a new therapeutic alternative for the treatment of surgical conditions competing with conventional surgery, whose use has been reduced in a good number of interventions. These developments are producing significant impacts both in hospitals and in surgeons and patients.
There are secondary benefits:
• Decrease in hospitalisation costs.
• Reduction in hospital infections.
• Diminution of waiting lists.
The reduction in hospitalisation and the increase in outpatient treatment of patients requires a significant change in the Surgery Services, and modifications in the operating room structure, for a rapid circulation of patients.
In regards to patients, minimally invasive surgery allows:
• Less postoperative pain.
• The possibility of avoiding general anaesthesia.
• A quick recovery.
• Less complications related to surrounding tissue damage.
Disadvantages of Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Requires greater skill as there are more difficulties with spatial perception: due to that the interventions being controlled through monitors, binocular vision that the three-dimensional gives us is lost. However, thanks to technological advances, three-dimensional is already a reality and will further improve results.
• Loss of deep perception (impossibility of palpation/sensation). Specialists lose the feeling and touch of conventional surgery, and it is necessary to learn to feel with the instruments.
• Debatable cancer management mainly due to lack of results.
• In case of major bleeding, it is difficult or impossible to control.
• Small and deep nodules are difficult to locate.
• The Internal suturing process is slower and complicated.
At The London Spine Unit, our specialists are experts at minimally invasive surgery.
Other Links :
What is regenerative medicine?
What is Minimally Invasive Surgery?
We can define Minimally Invasive Surgery, also called keyhole surgery, as the set of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques that by direct vision, or endoscopic, or by other imaging techniques, use natural routes or minimal approaches to introduce tools to treat different parts of the body.
What are the advantages of minimally invasive surgery?
First, the reduction of the systemic inflammatory response associated with surgery, and improvement in the immune response, diminution of postoperative pain mainly due to limitation surgical incision length and the reduction of trauma in healthy tissues. In addition, less complications in the surgical wound and decrease in the postoperative period and stay in the hospital. Consequently, we can reduce the associated costs and waiting lists.
What are the disadvantages of minimally invasive surgery?
It requires greater skill as there are more difficulties with spatial perception: due to that the interventions being controlled through monitors, binocular vision that the three-dimensional gives us is lost. Also, we can mention loss of deep perception (impossibility of palpation/sensation), and debatable cancer management mainly due to lack of results. In case of major bleeding, it is difficult or impossible to control. Small and deep nodules are difficult to locate, and the Internal suturing process is slower and complicated.
