Minimally Invasive Surgeries of the Abdomen

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Physicians at Baptist Medical Center may use minimally invasive techniques for a number of surgeries in the abdominal area. Some conditions that may be treated include:

• GERD: (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
• Appendicitis: When the appendix becomes infected, in certain cases it is necessary to remove the appendix to avoid rupture (perforation), inflammation (peritonitis) or abcess.
• Gallstones: When cholesterol and bilirubin (bile salts) accumulate in the gallbladder or bile ducts, gallstone can form. If left untreated, gallstones can grown and cause pain, nausea, bloating and indigestion. When these symptoms persist, removal of the gallbladder (cholestectomy) is recommended.
• Abdominal hernia: This condition, in which a portion of the stomach protrudes through a tear in the abdominal wall, requires surgery when the hernia causes pain or becomes twisted and unable to return to its proper position.

Minimally invasive surgery may also be possible for removal of the:
• spleen (splenectomy)
• adrenal glands (to treat conditions such as Conn’s syndrome, Cushing’s syndrome or aldosteronoma)
• portions of the colon and/or polyps from the colon (for conditions such as diverticulosis or Crohn’s disease)

In minimally invasive abdominal surgery, physicians use a device called a laparoscope, a slender illuminated optical or fiber-optic instrument that is inserted through an incision in the abdominal wall. It is used to visually examine the interior of the peritoneal cavity. Laparoscopic surgery eliminates the need for a long incision in the abdominal muscles, making post-operative care and recovery much easier. Many patients are able to go home the day of surgery.

:: Request a referral to a surgeon at Baptist.

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