Traditionally, going for surgery meant undergoing a major operation, usually for a life-threatening condition. These days, there are all sorts of minimally invasive surgeries that don’t require weeks or months of bed rest. Many minimally invasive surgery options allow you to get back to what you’re doing within a matter of hours or a couple of days. What are these minimally invasive surgeries, and what should you consider?
Laparoscopic gallbladder removal
Gallbladder removal used to be a difficult operation that involved opening up the abdomen and physically cutting out the gallbladder directly. Instead of a large 6-inch opening, many surgeons now use laparoscopy.
The idea is to make three or four small incisions in the abdomen that are keyhole-shaped and then use specialised instruments to perform the surgery without opening up the interior of the body. Surgeons use a camera mounted on the end of the torso to see what they’re doing, and then perform the surgery while using a monitor.
The nice thing about this option is that it only requires a 2- to 5-day hospital stay, compared to regular gallbladder removal patients who require around 6 weeks of recovery. Furthermore, the laparoscopic approach is an outpatient procedure, and most people are back to light activities within 1 to 2 weeks.
Varicose vein removal
Varicose veins can become painful, especially over time. Many people with varicose veins in their lower limbs find it difficult to run or do exercise. Historically, removing varicose veins required stripping them out directly, which was an arduous task and required removing a lot of tissue. However, these days the average vein specialist does nothing of the sort. They use a range of advanced procedures that are minimally invasive.
One option is to inject these veins with a chemical that causes them to close up naturally. This prevents blood from travelling through them, forcing it to flow deeper through the leg through hidden veins that don’t cause pain.
Another option is to use lasers to remove the damaged vein sections so the body naturally recycles them and replaces them with new vasculature.
Again, both of these options are outpatient surgeries. They don’t require anybody to stay in the hospital for a lengthy period of time.
Knee and shoulder arthroscopy
ACL tears, rotator cuff injuries, and torn menisci are traditionally treated with open joint surgery. This resulted in massive scars and stiff joints, sometimes for a lifetime.
Arthroscopy uses a tiny camera called an arthroscope. It is inserted into the joint through a small incision, and the surgeon can look at the interior of the structure and see what needs to be corrected. Tiny specialised tools can then trim or repair damaged tissue, leading to minimal damage to the surrounding body.
ACL tears, arthritis problems, and dislocation can all be adapted to this procedure. The result is minimal damage to tendons and surrounding muscles, which leads to less post-operative pain. Most patients are back to their normal routine within a couple of weeks.
So which of these minimally invasive surgeries would you opt for?
