Department of Surgery

Division of Colorectal Surgery

Procedures

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Open and laparoscopic refer to how a surgeon enters the abdominal cavity and not the type of surgery being performed. Each type of surgery may be performed as either an open or a laparoscopic procedure.

When performing open surgery, surgeons create a single incision to open the abdomen for the operation. Typically, for women it is 4 1/2 to 6 inches, and for men, it is 5 1/2 to 7 inches.

With laparoscopic surgery, multiple, small incisions are made in the abdominal wall to accommodate a small video camera and surgical instruments. The surgeon views the procedure on a separate video monitor. Most laparoscopic surgeons believe this gives them a better view and access to key structures.

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery provides many benefits to patients, including:

Less blood loss
Smaller incisions
Less pain following the surgery
Less time in the hospital
Faster recovery time

Minimally invasive techniques can be used for exploratory/diagnostic surgery or to remove or repair internal organs. More about minimally invasive procedures most commonly performed at the Division of Colorectal Surgery

Although open surgeries are still more common, most surgeons now offer the less invasive laparoscopic procedure whenever possible. Speak with your surgeon to find out if you are a good candidate for laparoscopic surgery.