---

Minimally invasive surgery
Minimally invasive surgery is the current trend in all fields of surgery. Modern surgical techniques and technology have enabled its development to the benefit of surgical patients. Instead of opening up big incisions on the body wall to perform surgical operations, minimally invasive surgery use endoscopes and fine instruments going through small holes on the body wall or natural orifices to effect the same magnitude of operations as in open conventional surgery. Because of the lesser amount of surgical trauma associated with minimally invasive surgery, patients can undergo much quicker postoperative recovery and can be discharged from hospital much earlier. Minimally invasive surgery also has the benefit of less postoperative wound pain, much smaller surgical scars, less blood loss, higher precision and less wound infection.

• How is minimally invasive surgery performed?
• The application of minimally invasive surgery
• Instrumentation in minimally invasive surgery
• High standard of surgical services
• Common Misunderstandings about Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Promotion and education to the public
  
  
• Video:
  • Introduction to Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre
  
  

---

How is minimally invasive surgery performed?

Minimally invasive surgery can be divided into two types:
1. An endoscope and other fine surgical instruments are put into chest and abdominal cavities through a number of miniscule incisions. Diseased organs are then removed by video-assisted surgery, resulting in tiny wounds and faster recovery.

2. An endoscope is put into the body through natural orifices like oral cavity, anus (colonoscopy), and the opening of bile duct (choledochoscopy) for gastroenterological and hepatobiliary pancreatic diagnosis and treatment. No general anesthesia is needed as the patient has no wound resulting from this "almost painless" procedure.

<< Back

---

The application of minimally invasive surgery

Minimally invasive surgery can now be used in a wide spectrum of surgical operations. Cholecystectomy, hernia repair, appendicectomy, colorectal resection, gastric operation, splenectomy, adrenalectomy, Nissen fundoplication for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, gastric band for weight reduction, varicose vein operation and rectopexy for rectal prolapse are common examples that laparoscopic operations have become the treatment of choice.

Endoscopic therapies including gastroscopic treatment of oesophageal variceal bleeding, peptic ulcer complications, benign and malignant stenosis, mucosal resection of early tumours and colonoscopic diagnosis of colonic lesions and removal of colonic polyps are the routine treatment for a variety of gastrointestinal disorders.

<< Back

---

Instrumentation in minimally invasive surgery

The state-of-the-art endoscopes including the fibre-optic flexible endoscopes and the rigid rod-lens endoscopes form the basic element of the armamentarium that make the modern day minimally invasive surgery possible. The different angles of vision provided by the endoscopes markedly enhance the power of the surgeon in seeing hidden parts of the body that are not easily discernable even in open operations.

The video camera system connecting to the endoscope helps to transmit the operative images onto a monitor for the ergonomic operation of the surgeons so that even complicated procedures are easily carried out.

Different kinds of hand instruments comprising miniaturised scissors, graspers, forceps and cutters help to precisely perform the steps of the operation in an accurate and high quality fashion.

da Vinci S Robotic Surgical System – Opens Up New Horizons for Minimally Invasive Surgery

To further improve our minimally invasive surgical capabilities, the Hospital has introduced the latest and upgraded model of the da Vinci S Robotic Surgical System in March 2007, being the first in the private health care sector in Hong Kong. The system enables surgeons to perform operations with robotically-assisted techniques, thus combining the advantages of minimally invasive surgery and dexterity in open surgery. Improved clinical outcomes allow patients return to active and productive lives quickly after surgery.

<< Back

---

High standard of surgical services

Minimally invasive surgery is by itself a high quality operation because of the good visual images offered by the videoendoscopic apparatus. Yet the surgeons have to be proficient in the technical skills before good operative results can be guaranteed. The surgeons of our Centre are experts in laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery who have extensive experience and pioneered the technique. We provide training to surgeons in Hong Kong, China and overseas.

To ensure the consistent provision of high quality service, the Centre is equipped with systems whereby the care processes and surgical outcomes of the service are regularly reviewed and audited. The Centre is committed to providing high quality service and we always have the world standard as our target.

<< Back

---

Common Misunderstandings about Minimally Invasive Surgery

• Minimally invasive surgery can reduce the risk of wound infection due to extensive incision. But it can hardly rule out the possibility of any undesirable outcome from other injuries and complications.
• While it allows early recovery and shorter hospital stay with small, fast-healing wounds, minimally invasive surgery may not be necessarily more effective than traditional open-chest surgery in terms of clinical outcomes.
• Minimally invasive surgery is not applicable to all cases or patients, e.g. organ transplantation
• Patients who are prone to bleeding, cannot stand pneumoperitoneum or have adhesive problems in the wounds from previous extensive surgery are advised against minimally invasive surgery.
  
  
• << Back
  
  

---

Promotion and education to the public

The Centre is also committed to educating the public in areas of public health, prevention of diseases and update treatment of surgical conditions. In this aspect, we also act as patient advocates so that the best interest of our patients will be taken care of. We insist on offering patients with options and alternatives so that patients can choose the best treatment that suits them most. This would only be possible if the patients are adequately educated and know what to ask for. An ongoing series of public seminars on medical topics are regularly delivered and members of the public are welcome to attend.

<< Back