Laparoscopic & Thoracoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic Surgery

One of the exciting developments has been the introduction of Minimal Access Surgery.

Originally used for the abdominal cavity we are able now to enter several areas of the body including thoracic cavity and the neck in order to inspect and to perform procedures.

Small incisions are typically made and then instruments are inserted. A camera device called a laparoscope is first inserted and visual check is made.

On occasion serious conditions are detected which require conversion to standard open surgery. Otherwise further ports are added to allow the entrance of cutting devices such as piezoelectric shears and grasping instruments.

Minimal access describes both the benefits and also the shortcomings of this approach. As the technology improves we are able to use smaller access “ports” but the limitation is that for cancer work the cancer may not be able to be removed through small incisions.

The technology continues to evolve and experimental approaches being evaluated with single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) and “scarless surgery”

Presently our facility offers ‘standard” laparoscopic surgery accepted by the international surgical community and is committed to introducing new techniques as they are approved for clinical practice.

Thoracoscopic Surgery

VATS (video-assisted thoracic surgery) is a type of minimally invasive thoracic surgery of the chest, performed with a Thoracoscope (small videoscope) using small incisions and special instruments to minimize trauma.

During Thoracoscopic surgery, three or less, small (approximately 1-inch) incisions are used, as compared with one long 6- to 8-inch chest incision that is used during traditional, "open" thoracic surgery.  Surgical instruments and the Thoracoscope are inserted through these small incisions.

The Thoracoscope transmits images of the operative area onto a computer monitor that is positioned next to the patient.

Laparoscopic surgery is available for the following disciplines:

• Cardiothoracic
• Colorectal
• Endocrine
• General Surgery
• Hernia Surgery
• Gynecology
• Urology

Our consultants may recommend laparoscopy to treat the following organs:

• Appendix
• Esophagus
• Gallbladder
• Large Intestine (colon)
• Liver
• Lung
• Ovaries
• Pancreas
• Small Intestine
• Spleen
• Stomach
• Thyroid
• Uterus

This list is not comprehensive.

Please discuss your condition with a surgeon to find if your procedure is suitable for laparoscopic surgery.