Single incision surgeries reduce scarring, pain, risk

Published 2:34 pm Monday, December 20, 2010

Compared to traditional surgery techniques, single incision surgeries at Memorial Hospital offer significantly less scarring and potentially less pain while decreasing the potential of post operative infection.

Dr. Daniel Heithold, a general surgeon practicing at Memorial, offers single incision gall bladder removal, which is a far less invasive procedure with fewer scars and a faster recovery.

“Single incision procedures benefit patients in many ways,” says Dr. Heithold. “Surgery techniques have evolved to decrease scarring, pain and he risk of infection.”

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most common abdominal procedures performed by general surgeons. Single incision laparoscopic surgery is an evolving technology that is showing great promise for patients who need minimally invasive surgery. The Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery technique of gallbladder removal involves removing the organ using only a small incision that in most cases is hidden in the umbilicus.

Traditional methods involve three or four incisions in the abdomen, but Dr. Heithold has successfully performed this procedure many times through a single skin incision located in the patients’ belly button – practically eliminating a scar.

“This represents a significant step toward even less invasive surgery which may improve patient outcomes Dr. Heithold says. “It is a technology that I have embraced and one that I feel is in the best interest of my patients that require a Cholecystectomy.”

Single-incision surgeries are now being preformed in a number of other applications including Foregut, Gynecologic, Urologic, Colorectal, Hernia and Spleen.

The SILS procedure cannot be done on every patient.  Excess weight, severe adhesions, or prior abdominal surgeries may increase the need for additional incisions.