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A Review Of Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery

By Edward Thomas


Surgery has evolved in a great way in the last few decades. Unlike in the past, when the main objective was to restore functionality, cosmesis appear to carry a lot of significance these days. In Ne York city for example, patients are increasingly requesting for smaller incisions so as to reduce the sizes of scars. This is perhaps what gave rise to laparoscopic surgery and most recently, single incision laparoscopic surgery. In this article we explore what exactly this operation is and what its benefits and downsides are.

Laparoscopic surgeries use three to five openings that are much smaller than the incision used for open surgeries. In single incision surgery only one is required. General anesthesia is usually required just as is the case with many other operations. Other terms used to describe the technique include single port laparoscopy, SPL, and single port access surgery, SPA.

There are a number of surgical operations that can be performed using this technique. They include gallbladder removal, repair of inguinal and incisional hernias, appendectomy and the removal of pelvic organs such as the ovary and the uterus among others. This list continues to grow by the day as better instruments are invented to make it easier to perform such operations.

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.

This technique is not suitable for use in patients that are very obese, those that have a massively enlarged abdominal organ and those with a history of multiple operations. This is because of the difficulties that are associated with operating these groups of patients. In case, the operation cannot be completed successfully (as happens in 5 to 10% of cases). Additional ports can be created or even conversion to the open procedure in rare cases.

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.

Single incision surgery is fast becoming one of the most popular techniques among patients and surgeons. This is mainly due to its minimal invasive nature that results in better cosmetic results. The risks involved are also reduced markedly. The fields of gynecology and pediatrics appear to be on the forefront in embracing this specialized procedure.




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