Minimally Invasive Surgeries

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is used to treat recurrent acute or chronic infective sinusitis with the goal of draining or removing any infection, allowing the sinus to function normally. The Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) specialist will insert the endoscope into the nostril to examine the sinuses. When appropriate, other tools will be used to drain the infection and restore ventilation between the nose and the sinuses. Prior to the FESS, your specialist may require a CT scan to evaluate your condition and determine your suitability.

Endolaryngeal surgery is an endoscopic surgery used to treat laryngeal cancer abd also benign lesion of the larynx. Some of the tracheal lesion can be treated by inserting a bronchoscope or tracheoscope.

Surgeon inserts a larygoscope that permits visualisation of the larynx including vocal cord. There is no incision made to the mouth or the neck. Small lesion including cancer can be removed by using laser or using thin and long instruments and operating microscope. This method allows excellent visualisation and accurate surgery as well as faster recovery.

Minimally invasive thoracic surgery may be used to treat lung (or oesophageal) cancer and also for surgical procedures on the thyroid, larynx, and tracheal.

Surgeons use small incisions to insert long, thin instruments, performing procedures inside the patient’s body but with less injuryto the throat, chest or abdominal wall when compared with traditional open approaches. These minimally invasive thoracic surgical procedures are often referred to as thoracoscopy or video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).

Minimally invasive carpal tunnel surgery is used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome by cutting the ligament around the carpal tunnel, taking pressure off the median nerve and relieving symptoms. During the procedure, the surgeon may make two small 1 mm cuts, one on the palm and one on the wrist. An endoscope (a camera attached to a narrow tube) is inserted into one of the incisions to guide the doctor as he/she inserts instruments to cut the carpal tunnel via the other incision.

A laparoscopic hysterectomy is used to surgically remove a woman's uterus. A small incision is made in the navel and a laparoscope is inserted. Two or three other incisions are made with specialised instruments added. The surgeon will use the transmitted images to help him or her navigate around the lower abdomen, detaching the uterus from the surrounding tissues.

Minimally invasive spine surgery is used to stabilise the vertebral bones and spinal joints and/or relieve pressure on the spinal nerves due to conditions such as herniated discs, scoliosis, or spinal tumours. The procedure involves a small incision in the back.

Using dynamic X-ray imaging, the surgeon locates the diseased vertebral levels. Various tools (dilators and tubular retractors) are then used to approach the vertebra. The degenerated disc is replaced with a bone graft implant, realigning the vertebral bones and relieving pressure on the nerve roots.

Recent technological advances in the field of spine surgery have allowed surgeon to employ minimally invasive surgery to treat back and neck conditions. As the incisions are smaller and distruption of normal tissues is minimal, patient has less post surgical pain and faster recovery. Patients also benefit from less blood loss, lower risk of infection, less scarring with better cosmetic result.

Minimally invasive produres are performed with special instruments to improve visualisation and access the targeted tissue. Surgeon could use tubular retractors, endoscopes, thoroscopes or direct lateral access instruments.

Minimally invasive procedures can be done for the following:

• spinal fusion
• spinal decompression
• interbody cage fusion
• microdiscetomy
• laminotomy/laminectomy

Laparoscopic partial hepatectomy is used to remove part of a liver due to a liver mass which may be benign or cancerous. Depending on the number and locations of the lesions, three to seven small abdominal incisions will be made to insert instruments and the laparoscope.

The images from the laparoscope will be used by the surgeon as guidance to remove the liver mass from the surrounding tissues.

Laparoscopic appendectomy is the removal of an infected appendix through small incisions, rather than 1 large incision in the abdominal wall, with the use of laparoscopic surgical tools. The surgeon watches images of the internal organs on a television monitor while performing the procedure.

Laparoscopic cholesecystectomy is the removal of the gallbladder impacted by gallstones via multiple small incisions, with the aid of a small camera and specialised surgical tools.

Laparoscopic hernia surgery is the repair of a hernia with special surgical tools that include a tube, a camera and a light source. They are inserted into the small incisions to pull the hernia back into place.

Laparoscopic colorectal surgery has the same goal as conventional open abdominal surgery except that it involves smaller cuts in the abdominal wall. A small cut is made, usually at the navel, to expand the abdomen using carbon dioxide.

A laparoscope, is inserted to transmits images to the monitor, allowing the surgeon to see within the abdomen. Several smaller incisions are then made for other instruments used to undertake the procedure.

Laparoscopic nephrectomy can be used to remove a diseased or cancerous kidney. The surgery requires three small incisions in the abdomen. A laparoscope and several small instruments are inserted into these incisions allowing the surgeons to visualise and excise the kidney. The kidney is then removed through one of the incisions.