Minimally Invasive Surgery at Elmbrook Memorial
With advancements in technology and the advanced training of physicians, nearly all types of procedures can now be performed minimally invasively. This includes surgeries of the pancreas, lung, esophagus, heart, colon, stomach, liver, gall bladder, prostate, kidney, uterus and the removal of cancerous tumors.
While some patients may still require general surgery with open incisions, others may be candidates for minimally invasive options. Minimally invasive options include:
- Arthroscopic
- laparoscopic or advanced laparoscopic techniques, such as SILS (single incision laparoscopy)
- and robot assisted surgery
Our team of medical experts will review each case and work to ensure each patient receives the option best suited to him or her.
Elmbrook Memorial features a highly skilled staff of surgeons. Several physicians on our medical staff are nationally recognized for their groundbreaking minimally invasive work in the areas of colo-rectal, esophageal, urologic, bariatric and gynecological procedures
Less scars, shorter recovery, faster healing
Minimally invasive surgery is also commonly referred to as laparoscopic or arthroscopic surgery because of use the majority of work is done through scopes versus creating a large open incision. This results in significantly less postoperative pain, a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery and in many cases, a better overall outcome.
With minimally invasive procedures, a surgeon inserts an endoscope - a long thin tube with a lighted camera at its tip - through a small incision. The camera sends a two-dimensional image of the surgical site to a high-definition monitor, which the surgeon watches throughout the operation. Specially designed surgical instruments are placed through the original cut or through other small incisions and allow the surgeon to cut, stitch, cauterize and perform other tasks with minimal damage to skin, muscles and organs. Generally, patients require only an overnight hospital stay and heal with very little scarring.
Advanced laparoscopic surgery
With new developments in technology and instruments, combined with extensive training and innovative techniques, advanced laparoscopic procedures are now available for the treatment of many conditions. Our advanced laparoscopic surgeons have had extensive training in several highly specialized laparoscopic techniques.
Examples include treatment of reflux and heartburn with an incision less reconstructive surgical treatment for GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) and minimally invasive treatment of colon and rectal diseases that greatly reduce the need for a colostomy, better preserve sexual function and bladder control and enhance the patient's future quality of life.
Single Incision Laparoscopies (SILS) are being pioneered at Elmbrook Memorial with outstanding outcomes. The SILS technique allows surgeons to use one incision site in the belly button versus the three to four incisions required by standard laparoscopic and robotic assisted surgeries. This means the potential elimination of visible scars and reduction of the pain associated with multiple points of entry.
Robotic surgery
Elmbrook Memorial surgeons utilize the da Vinci® Surgical System for a wide variety of surgical procedures, including:
- general surgeries
- colo-rectal
- gynecological
- bariatric
- and urological
The da Vinci robot is a sophisticated device designed to allow skilled surgeons to perform complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach. Powered by state-of-the-art robotic technology, the da Vinci® System seamlessly translates the surgeon's hand movements into precise movements of the instruments.
Using high-resolution 3D viewers, surgeons can see the target anatomy at high magnification, in brilliant color and with natural depth of field. To perform a procedure, the surgeon uses the console’s master controls to maneuver four robotic arms and high-magnification endoscopic camera. Mimicking the physician’s hand movements, the robotic instruments exceed the natural range of motion of the human hand and motion scaling and tremor reduction further refine the surgeon’s hand movements. The result is another option for patients for several general surgery procedures previously only performed through open incisions.
Learn more about robotic surgery.
The benefits of robotic surgery
The da Vinci® Surgical System allows surgeons to perform complex procedures through 1-2 cm incisions, which means that minimally invasive surgical therapies are now available to millions of patients.
For most patients, minimally invasive procedures performed with the da Vinci® Surgical System can offer numerous potential benefits over open-abdominal surgery, including: smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, reduced pain, shorter hospital stays, minimal scarring and fewer post-operative infections and complications.
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