Procedures

Cholecystectomy (Removal of the Gallbladder)

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the removal of the gallbladder through small incisions in the abdomen. More than 60 000 laparoscopic cholecystectomies are performed annually in the USA most of which are done using a laparoscopic approach. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the procedure of choice for most pathology of the gallbladder and is replacing open cholecystectomy as the first-choice of treatment for gallstones and inflammation of the gallbladder unless there are contraindications to laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy requires four small incisions in the abdominal wall to allow the placement of operating ports, small tubes 5 to 10 mm in diameter, through which surgical instruments and a laparoscopic camera are placed into the abdominal cavity. The camera illuminates the surgical field and sends a magnified image from inside the body to a high definition LCD monitor, giving the surgeon a magnified view of the abdominal cavity. The surgeon watches the LCD monitor and operates by manipulating the surgical instruments through the operating ports.

Single Port Cholecystectomy (Entire Procedure Performed via the Umbilicus)

SILS™: (SINGLE INCISION LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY) Surgery with the potential for no visible scars as the three to four incisions required for standard laparoscopic surgeries are replaced with just one incision in the belly button. The benefits to patients include the potential elimination of visible scars and the pain associated with multiple points of entry.

SILS is also known as single port laparoscopy (SPL), single port access surgery (SPA), single port incisionless conventional equipment-utilizing surgery (SPICES), Single access endoscopic surgery (SAES), laparo-endoscopic single site surgery (LESS), natural orifice transumbilical surgery (NOTUS), and one port umbilical surgery (OPUS), is a recently developed technique in laparoscopic surgery