How We Do It

Also referred to as minimally invasive surgery or keyhole surgery, laparoscopic surgery is a technique that uses a long, thin telescope-like instrument (the laparoscope) attached to a video camera that projects images onto a video monitor. The camera is inserted through a tiny "band-aid" cut in the skin and visualizes the abnormal bowel on a video monitor in the operating room. Through 3-4 additional "band-aid" cuts in the skin, we insert instruments to hold the intestine, remove the diseased segment and reconnect the bowel. The abdomen is additionally insufflated with carbon dioxide to distend the abdomen to give the surgeon "working space" to perform the operation.

By performing the operation as we watch the image on the monitor, we are able to view a patient's internal organs at very high resolution and thereby perform the entire surgery through tiny incisions, often no longer than half an inch ("bandaid" cuts).

Why "Band-aid" Surgery Will Become Standard for Laparoscopic Colon Surgery
Currently our approach is the standard technique for operations performed for diseases of the gallbladder, hernia, morbid obesity surgery and others. We believe that it will become the standard in the field for colon surgery but it does require extensive experience, advanced instrumentation and a dedicated team of doctors and nurses in the operating room.

Important Questions to Ask Your Surgeon
Since laparoscopic colectomy is a new technique, techniques vary and not all surgeons have the same level of experience. There are several important questions you need to ask your surgeon:

Is your surgeon experienced enough (there is a learning curve which requires about 50-100 cases)- we are

Does your surgeon have an internal audit of his results- we have tracked our last 100 cases

How frequently is your surgeon able to complete the entire operation laparoscopically- up to 95% for us

Can your surgeon perform the operation laparoscopically if you have had prior abdominal surgery- we can

Can your surgeon perform the operation laparoscopically if you are overweight or obese- we can

Can your surgeon perform the entire operation laparoscopically ("band-aid" surgery)- this is what we do best

Advantages of "Band-aid" Colon Surgery

• "Band-aid" incisions -- two inches is the largest incision compared to a 12 inches for open surgery
• Less Pain
• Quicker Incision Healing
• Less chance of wound infection (especially if your overweight or diabetic)
• Less chance of a hernia- which can lead to pain and blockage of your intestines
• Shorter hospital stay - our average stay is only 4 days (some have left in 48-72 hours)
• Quicker recovery - within 2 weeks most are back to work!