Minimally invasive surgery refers to any surgical procedure that is performed through tiny incisions instead of a large opening. Because your surgeon will make smaller incisions, you will likely have a quicker recovery time and less pain than traditional open surgery but with the same benefits as traditional surgery.

During minimally invasive surgery, Surgeon will make several small incisions in your skin, typically a few millimeters long. Your surgeon will then insert an endoscope  (a long, thin tube fixed with a camera and light) into one of the incisions. Images from the endoscope are sent to monitors in the operating room so that your surgeon can view clear, magnified pictures of the area needing surgery. Your surgeon will then insert surgical instruments through the other incisions, allowing your surgeon to perform the surgery on whatever’s wrong inside your body.

There are different types of minimally invasive surgery, including:

•             Laparoscopic surgery - Your surgeon uses small, thin instruments and a video camera to enhance the visual field.

•             Robotic surgery - Your surgeon places tiny robotic instruments into your body and controls the robot’s movement from a nearby console. The robot is able to access hard-to-reach areas of your body and has greater dexterity than a human.

•             GYN/Pelvic surgery - For certain procedures, such as a hysterectomy, surgeons can often remove the uterus through the vagina. Learn more about gynecology surgery.

Not all surgeries can be performed with minimally invasive techniques. For example, removal of cancer tumors is usually accomplished through conventional surgery. Minimally invasive surgery may also take longer than traditional open surgery. However, the advantages of minimally invasive surgery significantly outweigh disadvantages.

robotic-assisted surgery include:

•             General – Pancreatic cancer, benign pancreatic lesions, liver tumors (benign and malignant), gallbladder cancer, severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obesity (gastric bypass, bariatric surgery, gastric banding)

•             Lung – Some lung tumors, esophageal cancer and diseases

•             Gynecologic – Endometriosis, gynecologic cancers (ovarian/cervical cancer), heavy uterine              bleeding, uterine fibroids, uterine prolapse, ovarian cysts, benign cervical disorders

•             Head and neck – Head and neck cancer (oropharyngeal cancer), thyroid cancer

•             Heart – Mitral valve prolapse and repair, atrial septal defect, atrial fibrillation

•             Urological conditions – Bladder cancer, kidney disorders (kidney stones, kidney cysts, kidney blockage), kidney cancer, kidney removal, prostate cancer, incontinence, vaginal prolapse

Not all minimally invasive procedures are completed with robot assistance, and not all medical cases are right for robotic-assisted surgery—some patients may benefit from endoscopic or open (traditional) surgery.

Non-robotic minimally invasive surgery (endoscopic):

Non-robotic minimally invasive surgery is also known as endoscopic surgery. You also may be familiar with terms like laparoscopic surgery, thoracoscopic surgery, or “keyhole” surgery. These are minimally invasive procedures that utilize an endoscope to reach internal organs through very small incisions.

During endoscopic surgery the surgeon inserts a thin, flexible tube with a video camera through a small incision or a natural orifice like the mouth or nostrils. The tube has a channel to utilize tiny surgical instruments, which the surgeon uses while viewing the organs on a computer monitor.

This technique allows the surgeon to see inside the patient’s body and operate through a much smaller incision than would otherwise be required of traditional open surgery.

The benefits of endoscopic surgical procedures can include:

•             Small incisions, few incisions, or no incision

•             Less pain

•             Low risk of infection

•             Short hospital stay

•             Quick recovery time

•             Less scarring

•             Reduced blood loss

non-robotic minimally invasive surgery include:

•             General – Pancreatic cancer, benign pancreatic lesions, hernias, severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), liver tumors (benign and malignant), gallbladder cancer, obesity (gastric bypass, bariatric surgery, gastric banding), gastrointestinal/rectal conditions, hernias    (paraesophageal, ventral, hiatal or incisional)

•             Lung – Some lung tumors, esophageal cancer and diseases

•             Gynecologic – Gynecologic cancer, benign tumors, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, benign cervical disorders, conditions requiring hysterectomy, removal of ovaries and staging of lymph nodes

•             Head and neck – Skull base brain tumors, anterior cranial fossa (front skull base) tumors, posterior cranial fossa (back of the skull base) tumors

•             Heart – Atrial septal defects, aortic regurgitation, aortic insufficiency, aortic stenosis, mitral valve repair

•             Neurosurgery/Spine – Spine conditions, cervical disc hernias, lumbar disc hernias, degenerative disc disease, spinal trauma: skull base brain tumors, anterior cranial fossa (front skull base) tumors, posterior cranial fossa (back of the skull base) tumors

•             Vascular – varicose veins, venous insufficiency, peripheral vascular disease

•             Urological – Kidney disorders, kidney cysts, kidney stones, kidney blockage, kidney donation, prostate cancer, incontinence, vaginal prolapse

With Regards,
Richard Potvin
Editorial Assistant
General Surgery: Open Access