Many surgical procedures that once required large incisions are now performed through minimally invasive surgical techniques that require only tiny incisions. The advantages of minimally invasive techniques include less pain, shorter time in the hospital, smaller scars and quicker return to full activity. These operations are made possible by advances in video technology that allow surgeons to "see" into the abdomen. Because of the drastically different nature of these procedures, they require specialized surgical skills that differ greatly from traditional open surgery. By utilizing narrow telescopic devices, minimally invasive surgeons work by watching the movements of the surgical instruments inside the body on monitors in the operating room. Only through extensive experience with the manipulation of minimally invasive surgical instruments and the performance of many procedures does a surgeon become able to perform the most complex of these operations. The surgeons at the Saint Francis Minimally Invasive Surgery Center have extensive experience performing complex minimally invasive procedures in all regions of the body.
Our hope in creating this Web site is to provide an educational resource for patients and families who want to learn more about specific minimally invasive surgical procedures. The types of operations performed at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center are highlighted below with content contributed by the center's surgeons. Take the time to read the sections of interest to you or your loved one. With the power of knowledge, you will become an active participant in making informed medical decisions with your health care provider.
