Minimally Invasive Surgery
Experts in Minimally Invasive Surgery
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has redefined the field of surgery. The term is used to describe a number of surgeries, as well as diagnostic procedures. MIS includes both laparoscopy (surgery through small holes) and endoscopy (diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed through the body's organs and existing openings).
In traditional surgeries, a surgeon needs to make a large incision in order to operate. With MIS, the surgeon makes a few small holes — usually less than 1/2 an inch. The surgeon then inserts specially designed, thin instruments and sophisticated video equipment to perform the operation through the smaller opening.
These port sites are the key to MIS. The benefits of MIS include less pain, quicker return to normal activities and less tissue damage than with traditional surgeries.
Our surgeons are experts in MIS and have all received additional training in order to perform these highly technical procedures. Additionally, many of our surgeons are currently teaching these procedures to others.
By using MIS techniques, UChicago Medicine offers our patients many benefits over traditional surgeries.
Benefits of MIS
- Less pain: Studies have shown that patients undergoing MIS procedures report less post-operative pain and discomfort and require smaller doses of pain relievers than patients undergoing traditional surgeries.
- Shorter hospital stay: Patients who undergo MIS procedures are usually able to go home from the hospital sooner, and, in many cases, the patient is able to return to normal activities and work more quickly.
- Less scarring: MIS procedures require smaller incisions, which means smaller, less noticeable scars.
- Less injury to tissue; Most traditional surgeries require a long incision that is made through muscle. But muscle needs a significant time to heal after surgery. Because there are no long incisions in MIS, surgeons often do not have to cut through muscles to complete the procedure, leading to less tissue damage and quicker recovery.
- Higher accuracy rate: Because MIS procedures use video-assisted equipment, the surgeon has better visualization and magnification of internal organs and structure. For patients, this translates into an accurate and definitive procedure.