Laparoscopic Colon Surgery Advantages

Some Medical Advice

With Open Surgery, you can expect a surgical scar of 10 to 16 inches long. The return of bowel activity (able to eat) from 5 to 6 days. And the average lenght of hospital stay as long as 6 to 8 days.

In contrast, with Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Colon Surgery, your surgical scar is just 2 to 3 inches long. Bowel activity returns in just 2 to 3 days. On average , hospital stay is just 3 to 4 days.

There are several advantages to minimally invasive laparoscopic colorectal surgery:

• LESS PAIN. Since the overall trauma to the skin and muscle is reduced, post operative pain is less - allowing patients to recover quicker.
• REDUCED INFECTION RATE. Since the delicate tissues are not exposed to the air of the operating room over long periods of time - as they are when the body is wide open in traditional operations - the infection rate is lower.
• SAFER SURGERY. Video magnification offers us better exposure of the diseased colon and its surrounding vessels and nerves. As a result, delicate maneuvers can be performed to protect these vital structures. For instance, the need for blood transfusions is significantly less during laparoscopic colon surgery.
• SMALLER SCAR. A 2 inch incision leaves a considerably smaller scar and improved cosmetic results than the 12 to 16 inch incision used during open surgery.
• QUICKER RECOVERY. Patients are started on a diet the same night of surgery and are encouraged to begin walking the next morning. Following open surgery, most patients sit with a nasal tube that goes into the stomach (NG tube) for 5 or 6 days until they are ready to begin eating.
• SHORTER HOSPITAL STAY. Most of our patients are ready to leave the hospital in 3 or 4 days compared to a stay of over one week following open surgery.
• QUICKER RETURN TO YOUR NORMAL LIFE. The recovery once you leave the hospital is also much faster. Most patients are able to return to work or travel within 4 weeks.