All You Wanted To Know About “Key Hole Surgery”
What is “Key Hole Surgery”?
Keyhole Surgery, also known as Minimally Invasive Surgery, or Minimal Access Surgery, is an advanced surgical technique in which operations are performed, either with no cut to the body, or through very small incision of about 1 cm. Keyhole procedures within the abdomen or pelvis are known as laparoscopic, whilst those within the uterus are hysteroscopic.
How is it performed?
A Laparoscope is a narrow telescope, it is inserted through the abdominal wall through the umbilicus, ( Belly Button), so that any small scar is invisible. A light source and camera is connected, allowing the surgery and assistants a magnified view of the surgery. Gas is pumped into the abdominal cavity to expand it, this separates the organs and makes it easy to see the organs. Other special keyhole instruments, such as scissors and cautery are used through 1 or 2 additional very small 5mm incisions.
What are the advantages over traditional Surgery?
- Smaller incisions reduce pain and recovery period.
- Reduced Bleeding.
- Reduced exposure to infections .
- Shorter hospital stay due to faster recovery.
- Reduced internal scarring [adhesions].
- Less chances of hernia
- No visible external scars.
What operations can be done through key hole surgery?
- Removal of uterus ( Laparoscopic Hysterectomy)
- Removal of Fibroids ( Laparoscopic Myomectomy)
- Removal of Ovarian cysts, ovaries or tubes.
- Prolopse repair surgery ( Laparoscopic sacro colpopexy or Hysteropexy)
- Removal of internal scarring ( Laparoscopic Adhesiolysis)
- Removal of the uterus lining in cases of heavy bleeding (Hysteroscopic Resection of the Endometrium]
- Removal of uterine polyps, sub-mucous fibroids through hysteroscopy.
- Removal of septum, scar tissue within the uterus through hysteroscopy.
- Treatment of endometriosis through laparoscopy. Endometriosis is a painful condition where there is bleeding inside the abdomen, outside the uterus with every period. This leads to severe pain and infertility.
- Laparoscopic surgery for ectopic pregnancy . This is a complication when the pregnancy implants outside the uterus , commonly the fallopian tube,this causes internal bleeding and poses great danger to the mother. Laparoscopy confirms the diagnosis and prompt life saving treatment can be done with mimimum longtime scarring.
- Diagnose & treat pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Diagnose and treat chronic pelvic pain.
- Diagnose & treat infertility.
- Remove Lymph node for cancer.
When is Key Hole Surgery not possible?
- Only in case of cancer of the ovary where complete clearance of cancer tissue is not possible.
- When the patient has a heart disease or lung disease which does not permit the abdomen to be filled with gas
- When the patient is not fit for general anaesthesia
Keyhole Surgery is a boon for women, allowing safe, painless surgery and early recovery with minimal long term side effects.