Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a procedure where a surgeon inserts surgical tools into the body through small incisions (usually 1 to 3 inches or less) and uses a miniature camera (laparoscope) to visualize the inside of the body. This is quite different from traditional "open" surgery, where a larger incision enables a surgeon to see directly into the body.
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery
With MIS, surgeons cut through less tissue, muscle and nerve, and there is less trauma to the body after surgery. Minimally invasive surgeries also help reduce the risk of infection. Other MIS advantages include:
- Decreased pain after surgery
- Shorter recovery time
- Faster return to normal activities
Common Minimally Invasive Procedures
Virtua board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons perform thousands of minimally invasive surgeries in a broad range of specialties each year. Some of the surgeries include:
- Appendectomy
- Gall bladder removal
- Gastric bypass
- Stereotactic breast biopsy
- Lung or partial lung removal
- Hysterectomy
- Uterine fibroid embolization
- Rotator cuff repair
- Partial and total knee replacement
- Hip replacement
- Spine/disc repair
- Spinal fusion
- Pelvic floor reconstruction
- Prostate removal
- Carotid artery repair
- Varicose vein treatment
For information or an appointment with a Virtua surgeon, call 1-888-VIRTUA-3 (1-888-847-8823).