Over the past several decades, advances in the
field of surgery have been driven by the introduction
of minimally invasive techniques to the operating
room.
At Monmouth Medical Center, this trend of performing
surgery through small incisions is clearly illustrated
in a history that is rich in laparoscopic milestones.
Aided by powerful microscopes and video cameras
and using pencil-thin instruments, highly skilled
surgeons are able to get an extremely detailed
look of the surgical site to precisely perform
these advanced procedures.
Since introducing laparoscopic colectomies in
2001, for example, Monmouth’s colorectal
surgeons alone have performed hundreds of colon
operations, making Monmouth one of the leading
facilities in the Northeast to offer this sophisticated
procedure. The Center for Minimally Invasive
Surgery at Monmouth is a leader in laparoscopic
colectomies, and was the first in the state invited
to broadcast live, or real time, laparoscopic
colon surgery to a meeting of the American College
of Surgeons in 2005.
Colon surgery traditionally has been performed
through an eight- to 12-inch incision, allowing
surgeons to work inside the opening to remove
a portion of the diseased bowel and reconnect
the two remaining sections. With laparoscopic
surgery, a large “open” incision
no longer is needed. Instead, surgeons operate
through several small incisions — each
about one-quarter-inch long—through which
they insert the laparoscope and special instruments
to perform the same procedure.
For the patient, this minimally invasive technique
results in less pain and scarring, a shorter
hospital stay and quicker recovery Within several
weeks, they usually can return to normal activities,
including work.
“The advanced visualization capabilities
of the laparoscope gives us a better view than
seeing the surgical site with the naked eye,” explains
board-certified colorectal surgeon Michael Arvanitis,
M.D., FACS, chief of colon and rectal surgery
at Monmouth. “We are able to watch the
enlarged image of the patient’s internal
organs on a television monitor as we perform
the procedure through the small openings.”
“This procedure is proving extremely effective
in treating colon cancer, benign polyps and diverticulitis,
as well as other diseases of the colon,” says
Frank J. Borao, M.D., FACS, medical director
of The Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery. “Because
of our experience in this sophisticated technique,
a growing number of patients are becoming candidates
for the procedure, reducing their risk for complications
that can result from open surgery.”
Specifically, patients undergoing laparoscopic
colectomy are less likely to lose a large amount
of blood, or develop wound infections or abdominal
hernia. To learn more about the benefits of minimally
invasive surgery at Monmouth Medical Center,
call 888-SBHS-123.
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