Okay, so maybe I found this article about minimally invasive surgery interesting because I just finished watching Grey’s Anatomy seasons 1-10, but still, I am going to share it with all of you. First off, I want to go on the record saying I know diddly squat about medicine. Really. But, the article noted the huge disparity between the hospitals and surgeons that offer minimally invasive procedures vs. the ones that don’t.
It turns out, that if you need surgery, it might be a crap shoot as to whether you are offered the minimally invasive version or not. It basically comes down to whether the surgeon you were referred to offers and/or is capable of doing surgeries, say laparoscopically vs. opening you up. Although, statistics show that minimally invasive surgeries result in faster recovery time {on average 1.4 days} and less complications, that doesn’t mean every hospital and/or surgeon has caught up with the times.
The take-away from the article was to be somewhat self-educated about the type of surgery you need. Ask the surgeon if minimally invasive techniques would be an option for you. If they can’t do it, and it’s not an emergency, you might want to get a second consultation.
I would not have even know to ask something like this, would you? Have any of YOU had surgery before? Were you given the option to have a minimally invasive technique?
~Mavis
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Kathy says
Yes, I’ve had both. Minimall adhesive for gallbladder…4 little holes instead of huge abdominal scar like my mom and a sister have. Was given the choice. With hysterectomy was again given the choice but because of thick amounts of abdominal adhesions, had to be cut open. Which os okay, I heal well and scar is almost gone. For gallbladder, went home the next day, back on feet in 4 weeks (it’s still major abdominal surgery.) The second one, home 3 days later, 7 weeks was back to work.
For those prone to abdominal adhesions, laproscopic surgery is the way to go, if at all possible.
lynne says
With gallbladder, I had minimally invasive. Appendix, because when they looked inside of me, ended up being very invasive (6″ scar) due to it ended up being ovarian cysts that were bursting, not my appendix. That one was a 2 month recovery at home. I didn’t realize there WAS a choice between invasive or minimal, and with my gall as well as some fertility work, it’s just been minimal. I think they (the surgeons) would just DO minimal if they can, and invasive if they have to….doesn’t that just make sense??
Carla says
Hi Mavis — I have a nursing degree and can tell you that health care is a service that you need to research so you know what to ask. Obviously minimally invasive surgery will probably cost less so there may be less profit. I’m not saying all doctors think this way but some will. I had gallbladder surgery with a laproscope. Only stayed overnight in hospital and could have gone home if there had been someone to watch me. Had surgery on Thursday and was back to work Monday (desk job). Never leave all the decisions up to the health care provider. It’s your body and your money. A second or third opinion may be needed even if it is out of pocket.
Gwenn F says
I’ve had two surgeries (by the same surgeon) and I was able to elect to have minimally invasive surgery for both. The first was a gastric by-pass, having the less invasive surgery saved me at least 2 days in the hospital and 3 weeks of recovery time. Like Kathy I also had my gallbladder out and I was only in the hospital overnight, technically 23 hrs so it was just called observation instead of being an actual inpatient stay which also saved me several hundred dollars. If someone needs to have surgery, they should do their research and see if laproscopic or minimally invasive is an option. If so, find a good surgeon that can perform it. You are also most likely going to be under anesthesia less time which offers less risks as well.
It’s your body and many insurance companies will cover a second opinion for surgeries. If you don’t know for sure read your policy or call your insurance company.
Kate says
I’ve had two c-sections….wish they could work out how to do those with keyhole surgery!
Lisa Millar says
I just had my carpal tunnel in my right hand done.
As there is only one doctor around here that does it lapriscopically (I think I just made up that word) it would have meant waiting a loooong time.
The cost is a moot point here, as our health needs are mostly covered by the gov. (and yes, we still get choices of doctors and treatments)
I also chose to go under a local anaesthetic rather than a general as the procedure is only about 20 minutes.
The recovery is supposed to be 6 weeks for my hand, and I am sure it would have been less hassle to have it done the other way, and maybe if we lived nearer a large city area there would have been more choices and I would have gone the less invasive way.
Gardenpat says
I’ve had appendix and gall bladder removed- both laproscopic. But the amazing thing to me is that two of my daughters have been kidney donors and the surgeries to remove their kidney was done laproscopically!!!!
Jenn says
I have had two surgeries to remove ovarian cysts and endometriosis and the second surgery also required the removal of my left ovary. Both times my doctor used the Divinci Robot. They use it a lot for gynecological surgeries because the recovery time is a lot faster. The first time I was at home the same day as surgery, home from work for 2 weeks, but after the first week, I felt great. I could have gone back to work after just one week at home. The second surgery resulted in the removal of my ovary so I stayed in the hospital for a few extra hours that day. My doctor wanted to keep me, but I talked her into letting me go home. That time the recovery was 2 weeks and I ended up staying out of work for 3 weeks. Even still a lot faster if they had to have opened me up both times.
Rosaleen says
I’ve had more surgeries than I care to contemplate. If one has time (obviously not emergency situations), a LOT of information is available on line. I like my PCP but not necessarily the group and definitely not the hospital with which they are affiliated. For the last major surgery, if I had just gone to the group’s referral doc “who does all our cancer surgeries like this-not that YOU HAVE cancer,” I’d have been split open from stem to stern and have been in one of the lowest-rated hospitals in this very large metropolitan area. The person who made the “not that you have cancer” statement was a scheduler, not my doc, but even she called to find out why I hadn’t scheduled surgery in what was considered a timely fashion. I looked up the surgery, read up on forums, asked about robotic, laparascopic, even laser-knife methods and went if for several consultations. It took a while (Most of the consultations had a 6-8 week waiting period), but I found a surgeon with whom I was comfortable, was very experienced in that specific surgery, whose attitude I liked, and practiced in a hospital I found acceptable and had a good rating. Unlike my other surgeries, I can’t even find the scars 6 or 7 years later.
Terri says
Before anything Research doctors in the field you need. Remember 50% of doctors graduate at the bottom of their class. Find the best. There is too much information available not to. Look at the Top Docs in your area. When someone is going to cut you open – it is not the time to go for the closest or most convenient – you deserve the best. You can contact your state government to make sure there are no complaints or litigation for a doctor you are considering. Call other doctors yourself and ask them who they recommend. This is not the time to ask friends and neighbors – they have no expertise – unless they are a doc or worked in research like me. You are worth it
Pam says
Like Rosaleen, I’ve had more than I care the remember. I’ve had open and laparoscopic procedures. Like many other posters have noted – DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Know what it is that the doctor wants to do and how many different ways it can be done. We tend to trust doctors with decisions that can change our lives. My father put more research into his last car purchase than he put into his last surgery and it cost him his life (his physician admitted after his death that this surgery was elective – certainly NOT something a reasonably healthy 89 year old man HAD to have.). Research your surgeon, the procedure and the hospital you will be using. Most insurance companies have nurses on call that can provide a great deal of information about the procedure and exactly what your insurance will and won’t cover. Knowledge is power.
Deb says
We also should research infection rates for the facility. Many times, but not always, nosocomial infection rates are lower for “non-invasive” procedures. Ask your surgeon. If your surgeon doesn’t answer the question, find another surgeon. All hospitals and surgical facilities are required to keep records of this information and routinely share it with their surgeons. If your surgeon won’t answer your question, there’s a reason.
Jen Y says
I’ve had two surgeries – a caesarean, which was an emergency so I had no choice & my thyroid removed.
The 1st really can’t count, is their a minimally invasive way of removing a baby?! The second I had time to do a great deal of research & get a second opinion. I chose to have my entire thyroid removed after having three siblings go through thyroid cancer & then discovering 9 tumors on my mine. It was not that difficult as far as recovery, I was pretty much pain free within a few days (the results of no longer having a thryoid is another matter – more like 9 months to regulate my medication before I felt good again). My scar is pretty much invisible, it looks like a little wrinkle on my neck. I was out of the hospital within 24 hrs.
I will add that I do have very good insurance & access to very good medical care. I do think that makes a difference.
Heather says
I had arthroscopic knee surgery in the early 1990s. I am so glad I found a doctor who suggested it since before that no one could tell me what was wrong with my knee or how to fix it. (Turns out I had roughed up the inside of my knee cap and the end of the bone.) I am so glad I had it done.