Minimally Invasive Surgery


Minimally invasive surgery also known as ‘keyhole surgery’ describes a group of surgical techniques that allow surgery to be performed via small incisions on the abdomen or natural orifices. Small surgical instruments and a tiny video camera are threaded through the incisions into the abdomen where the video camera captures the view inside, and the image is displayed and magnified on a video screen.


Through minimally invasive approach, larger incisions are no longer needed in many cases of abdominal surgery. Patients generally experience less pain, scarring and blood loss compared to traditional ‘open’ surgery as there is less trauma to the body. Additionally, the risk of infection is reduced because body tissues are not exposed as they are at open abdominal surgery.


Patients also get up and move around more quickly after minimally invasive surgery, often on the same day as their operation, which reduces their hospital. They are able to return to their usual daily routine after one to two weeks unlike recovery from traditional open surgery that can take several weeks.


There are two main types of minimally invasive gynaecological surgery:


  • Laparoscopic surgery involves one to four small incisions on the abdomen, through which small surgical instruments are threaded through to perform the surgery. Minimally invasive surgery may also be performed using the robot where the surgeon sits at a video station in close proximity to the patient and remotely controls surgical instruments that are connected to the arms of the robot.
  • Hysteroscopic surgery does not involve any incisions and entry is usually through the vagina. A tiny video camera, light and other surgical instruments required for the procedure are threaded through the vagina and cervix. Diagnostic hysteroscopy involves viewing of the inside of the uterus to identify causes of abnormal uterine bleeding and painful menstrual periods, such as fibroids, polyps, and adhesions. It is also used to further evaluate abnormalities found after other diagnostic tests or investigations, such as endometrial biopsy, hysterosalpingogram, or sonogram.

Minimally invasive surgery requires specially designed surgical instruments that allow delicate manoeuvres, which include introducing required surgical materials, removing tissues, and suturing. It also requires specialized training where a surgeon nimbly transfers skills at working in a three-dimensional situation to working from a two-dimensional video screen.


Our gynaecologic oncologist and obstetricians and gynaecologists are highly trained advanced laparoscopic surgeons who perform non-complicated to highly complicated gynaecological surgeries.


(Source: AAGL – American Association of Gynaecologic Laparoscopists Minimally and MIS for Women)


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