Laparoscopic Surgery...

Over the last twenty years, several advancements have been made in the bariatrics field, one of them being the implementation of laparoscopic surgical techniques. Laparoscopic surgery, which is also referred to minimally invasive surgery, is a procedure performed in the abdominal or pelvic cavities. In traditional or open surgeries, incisions can be on average of 6 inches and the physician makes direct contact with the patient using surgical instruments.

 

However, in laparoscopic surgery, physicians make several tiny incisions (0.5 to 1.5cm in size) with the guidance of a special telescope and high definition camera called a laparoscope. Through these incisions, physicians place tubes where the camera and instruments enter. The physician is able to see what the camera is “looking at” internally in real time on an external monitor. By controlling the special instruments as they look at the external monitor, the physician is able to perform the surgery without directly touching the patient’s internal cavity.

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There are several advantages for utilizing laparoscopic surgery versus traditional, open surgery:

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• Since the chance of hemorrhaging is greatly reduced, the chances of needing a blood transfusion decreases as well.

• With small incisions, there is a reduction in the exposure of internal organs, which reduces the risk of the patient acquiring infections.

• Physicians make smaller incisions which reduces amount of pain patients feel post surgery. Because of this, patients need less pain medication post-op.

• With less pain, recovery time speeds up.

• Smaller incisions have an added aesthetic advantage: less scarring.

• Laparoscopic procedures have become more efficient and are now shorter than traditional surgeries.

• Hospital stay post-op can be as short as a same day discharge. This allows patients to resume normal activities quickly.
   

With his post-residency training in laparoscopic surgery, Dr. Korman is committed to staying on the forefront of the most innovative surgical techniques. He uses laparoscopic techniques in all of the procedures he performs.

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To learn more about laparoscopic procedures in the bariatrics field, call our office: 310-577-5540.