About Minimally Invasive Procedures

What are Minimally Invasive Procedures?

Benefits and Advantages

Risks and Complications

What are Minimally Invasive Procedures?

Minimally invasive procedures, also known as minimally invasive surgery or “keyhole” surgery, utilize emerging technologies for new techniques that offer greater patient care and more options over traditional surgery. Minimally invasive surgery is a surgical technique in which short, narrow tubes (trochars) are inserted through small incisions (less than 1 centimeter), which cause less damage to muscle tissue, creating a faster recovery for the patient. These surgeries are performed with special techniques involving miniature cameras and microscopes, miniature fiber-optic flashlights and high definition monitors.

Once the incisions are made, the surgeon inserts the narrow tubes. The camera and long, narrow surgical instruments are inserted into the tubes. The camera transmits to a monitor so the surgeon can view the inside of the patient without having to have a large incision. The surgeon then uses the instruments to manipulate, cut and sew tissue.

UT Medical Center surgeons are experts in performing these procedures that, for the patient, mean less pain/trauma to the body, less scarring, reduction in healthcare costs, faster recovery, decreased risk of developing complications after surgery and the opportunity to return to regular daily routines faster. Procedures—for both diagnostic purposes and treatment—such as an appendectomy, hernia repair, a colonoscopy, cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal), nephrectomy (kidney removal) and spinal surgery, including spinal fusion and balloon kyphoplasty, as well as other procedures are available.

If you require surgery, consider minimally invasive surgery. Talk to your doctor about benefits and risks and to find out if you are a candidate for these procedures. Make your appointment today by calling toll-free 1.877.UT.CARES (1.877.882.2737).

Benefits and Advantages

There are many reasons surgeons and patients alike are choosing minimally invasive procedures. These procedures offer the highest level of patient care and best possible outcomes and, with less recovery time and less pain, they are quickly becoming a better option than traditional open surgery. The following are minimally invasive procedure benefits.

• Reduced pain and discomfort due to smaller incisions
• Shorter hospital stay
• Minimal scarring
• Less recovery time
• Reduced healthcare costs
• Reduced risk of infection
• Greater surgical precision
• Fewer complications
• Fewer side effects
• Less blood loss and a decreased need for blood transfusions
• Less trauma
• Quick return to daily activities

Open surgery used to be the only option available for treatment when a surgical procedure was needed and, usually, it required a lengthy stay at the hospital. However, patients today can reap the rewards of medical advances with minimally invasive surgeries.

If you require surgery, consider minimally invasive surgery. Talk to your doctor about benefits and risks and to find out if you are a candidate for these procedures. Make your appointment today by calling toll-free 1.877.UT.CARES (1.877.882.2737).

Risks and Complications

As with any surgery, there are risks to be considered with minimally invasive procedures. It is important to talk to your doctor to find out if you are a good candidate for such surgery. Risks and complications include the following.

• Anesthesia or medication reactions
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Internal organ injury
• Blood vessel injury
• Vein or lung blood clotting
• Breathing problems
• Death, although this is rare

If you require surgery, consider minimally invasive surgery. Talk to your doctor about benefits and risks and to find out if you are a candidate for these procedures. Make your appointment today by calling toll-free 1.877.UT.CARES (1.877.882.2737).