Minimally invasive surgery (MIS), which is often referred to as keyhole surgery or laparoscopy, is a procedure that requires only a few 3-10 mm small incisions instead of one large open incision. The use of these fairly new medical techniques has greatly reduced risks to patients and has increased our understanding of how the body works.

According to a report published by the American Medical Association earlier this year, patients who underwent MIS procedures spent fewer days in hospital and spent less money on follow-up care than those who underwent traditional open surgery.  The study found that, in the first year after their procedures, the open surgery patients were in hospital 2.12 times more and spent 1.13 times more on medication than MIS patients.

“MIS is becoming more and more common in hospitals, especially here in the UAE where procedures such as bariatric or weight loss surgery have witnessed a gradual increase in the past decade with approximately 5,000 cases recorded each year,” says Professor Dr. Tahar Benhidjeb, Chairman and Consultant, Department of Surgery, Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi.

“One of the main goals of minimally invasive surgery is to reduce the physical trauma patients may experience during and after open surgery. Because the incisions are so small, patientshave quicker recovery times and experience less discomfort than with conventional surgery — all with the same benefits,” added Prof. Dr. Tahar Benhidjeb.

During a minimally invasive procedure, surgeons make small incisions in the skin. Special instruments are passed through the openings, which allow the surgeon to perform the surgery by exploring the area then removing or repairing as required.

Because the incisions are small, the patient usually feels significantly less pain, has less scarring, and may recover more quickly than with conventional surgery.

Since the inception of the technique in 1985, there has been a steady evolution of procedures and techniques. Robotic-assisted procedures represent one of the latest developments in MIS, giving surgeons a precision tool that uses the same small incisions as conventional MIS.

“The procedure is developing all the time and the use of robotic surgery in particular has allowed surgeons to carry out more complex operations with minimal invasiveness. One of the main advantages with robotics is the greater degree of accuracy that can be achieved as the surgeon is able to get a broader view of the operative field.”

However, not all procedures can be done through minimally invasive methods. Some cancerous tumors, for example, are often best removed through traditional open surgery.

Similarly, not all patients are suitable for minimally invasive procedures. For example, if patients have other underlying medical conditions, the surgeon may opt for more invasive surgery.

MIS procedures usually provide equivalent outcomes to traditional open surgery, but they also offer a number of significant benefits:

• Safer – With smaller incisions, there are fewer traumas to the body and far less blood loss.
• Cheaper – MIS is typically less expensive than conventional surgery.
• Less scarring – Most incisions are so small that it is hard to notice them after they have healed. They normally only require one or two stitches.
• Faster recovery – Since a minimally invasive procedure requires smaller incisions than conventional surgery (usually about the diameter of a one dirham coin), the body heals much faster. Whereas recovery from traditional surgeries typically takes six to eight weeks, patients who have undergone minimally invasive procedures usually recover in only one to two weeks.
• Less time in hospital – Minimally invasive procedures get patients back on their feet quicker than conventional surgery. Most procedures are associated with a 24 hour discharge or scheduled outpatient surgery.
• Less pain – Because these procedures are less invasive than conventional surgery, there is typically less pain involved.
• Becoming more common for major surgical procedures – Thanks to recent advances in technology, surgeons are increasingly using MIS for a number of major operations including cardiac surgery.