FACT SHEET TOPIC: Minimally Invasive Surgery

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If you have a condition that requires surgery, you may be interested to know about minimally invasive surgery. The surgeons of North Valley Surgical Associates perform this alternative to traditional (or open) surgery that gets you out of the hospital more quickly, minimizes pain and healing time, and in some cases, costs less than traditional surgery.

Minimally invasive surgery, sometimes called endoscopy or laparoscopy, allows for smaller incisions than traditional surgery. These small incisions create passageways for special surgical instruments and a microscopic video camera and light source. The video images are transmitted to a monitor, allowing your North Valley Surgical Associates physician to see the operative area on a large screen as the procedure is performed.

Because the incisions and passageways for instruments are smaller, there is less trauma to you. Therefore, you will generally experience less pain and scarring. In addition, studies have found that the risk of surgical complications is diminished with minimally invasive surgery. Your recovery time generally can be reduced to a few days, rather than the weeks of recover required with open surgery. That means you can get back to doing the things you enjoy much more quickly.

Minimally invasive surgical techniques are being applied to a growing number of procedures, such as gallbladder and hernia repair, as well as thoracic, urological and gynecological procedures. Minimally invasive surgery may someday replace traditional surgery for many other conditions.

Ask your North Valley Surgical Associates surgeon about minimally invasive surgery for your procedure. It may be right for you.

NOTE: As with all surgery, there are risks associated with minimally invasive surgery that should be discussed with your physician. If complications occur during the operation, your surgeon may choose to perform open surgery.