Surgical Procedures:

Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery

The past decade has seen the emergence of laparoscopic surgery as a revolutionary surgical technique in dealing with many diseases.

The use of laparoscopic surgery has been widely used for gynaecological operations, as well as for the removal of gallbladders.

Why is laparoscopic surgery better?

The greatest advantage of laparoscopic surgery over open or traditional surgery is greatly improved recovery times. Laparoscopic surgery allows the same operation performed by larger incisions to be performed by tiny incisions.

For example, traditional gallbladder operations required a 10cm incision under the right lower ribs. Laparoscopic surgery allows this to be performed by four smaller incisions, one 1cm in length, the other three 0.5cm in length. This leads to a combine incision length 2.5cm compared to 10cm.

This results in greatly reduced post operative pain which leads to earlier discharge from hospital. Open surgery for gallbladder removal usually requires hospitalisation for 5-7 days compared to overnight admission for laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder.

What other operations can be performed laparoscopically?

Laparoscopic surgery is limited only by the experience of the surgeon. Dr Fenton-Lee routinely performs laparoscopic

1. Gallbladder removal
2. Hernia repair
3. Appendicectomy
4. Bowel obstruction surgery
5. Gastric banding
6. Anti reflux surgery

In addition to these operations, he performs more advances laparoscopic procedures including

1. Partial gastrectomy (removal of stomach)
2. Splenectomy (removal of spleen)
3. Heller's myotomy (oesophageal operation)
4. Pancreatectomy (removal of pancreas)

Heller's Myotomy

All these procedures are traditionally performed via open surgery leading to longer hospitalisation.

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