Laparoscopic Procedures

Lap Band Surgery

Today, the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is one of the most common procedures performed for the treatment of morbid obesity. This is a purely restrictive procedure; this means it only decreases the amount of food intake. During this procedure, a silicone band is placed around the upper portion of the stomach in order to create an hour glass. The top part of the stomach is called pouch and it can only hold 4 oz of food. As a result the patient feels full with smaller amount of food and the satiety lasts longer. The band can be adjusted making the stoma tighter or looser according to the patient’s weight loss. There is no stomach stapling or rerouting of the bowels. The operation is performed under general anesthesia, typically lasts 30 minutes to 1 hour, and most of the patients go home the same day.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy

The adrenal gland can develop benign or malignant tumors that will require the removal of the affected organ. One adrenal gland is adequate for normal function. If both glands are removed, the patient must take small doses of steroids. Laparoscopic surgery has proved to be a major advancement for the management of adrenal tumors. It can offer numerous potential benefits over open-abdominal surgery, including shorter hospital stay, less pain and scarring, less risk of infection, less blood loss, faster recovery, and quicker return to normal activities. The operation is done under general anesthesia, takes about 1 hour and patients go home within the next 24 to 48 hours.

Laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery

Laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery is the most recent treatment advancement for GERD.  When medications are not successful, Laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery is a minimally-invasive procedure that corrects gastroesophageal reflux by creating an improved valve mechanism at the bottom of the esophagus. The laparoscopic approach offers many advantages when compare to the open approach such as shorter hospital stay, less postoperative pain, better cosmesis, and faster recovery. The operation is done under general anesthesia, takes about 1 hour and patients usually go home the same day.  

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Gallstones may form in the gallbladder or in the bile ducts. They are a very common medical problem. They can cause inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis) and surgical treatment is often needed. The removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is one of the most common types of surgery done in this country. In the past, open abdominal surgery was the standard treatment. This procedure required a 2 to 3 day stay in the hospital and a 3 to 7 inch incision and scar on the abdomen. Today, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is standard of care. This operation is done under general anesthesia. Four small incisions are performed in the abdomen. The abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide, for easier viewing and to provide room. The operation is carried out by using an endoscopic camera and different small instruments. The gallbladder is then removed through the belly-button and the incisions are closed with invisible stitches. The operation takes about 30 to 45 minutes and patients go home the same day.

Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass

The laparoscopic gastric bypass is the most common operation performed for weight loss in the United States. The operation consists of creating a small pouch with the upper portion of the stomach and reroute part of the intestines. The pouch can only accommodate 4 oz of food.  This is a combine procedure: it has both, a restrictive and a malabsorptive component. This means that not only restricts the food intake but also diminishes the amount of food that gets absorbed by the intestines. The operation is done under general anesthesia, lasts about 3 hours and patients are discharged home within 48 to 72 hours.

Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy

This is an operation to remove a kidney from a person who wishes to donate a kidney to a relative or friend who is suffering from kidney failure. Until recently, kidney donation from a living-donor could only be accomplished through a surgical procedure called open nephrectomy (kidney removal).  This procedure requires a large abdominal incision and a relatively longer hospital stay and recovery period. However, laparoscopic surgery represents the "gold standard” today for the treatment of many pathologies and is a well-established alternative approach to traditional open procedures for living-donor nephrectomy.  The operation is done under general anesthesia, takes between 90 minutes to 120 minutes and patients usually go home 2 days after the surgery.

Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair

An inguinal hernia occurs when the muscle of the abdominal wall weakens, resulting in a bulge. This can result in abdominal contents push into the hernia sac. There is no apparent cause of a hernia, but they are sometimes related with heavy lifting. Laparoscopic hernia repair is performed by 3 small incisions in the abdomen, using and endoscopic camera and 2 small surgical instruments. The herniated intestine is pulled back into place and a patch is placed to cover the defect and reinforce the abdominal wall. The operation is done under general anesthesia, takes about 30-40 minutes and patients go home the same day. Laparoscopic hernia repair offers less postoperative pain and allows faster recovery.

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

The laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was recently reintroduced as a surgical option for the treatment of morbid obesity. This is a purely restrictive procedure; this means that it only limits the food intake. During this procedure, a narrow sleeve is created using the lesser curvature of the stomach. The remaining part of the stomach is detached and then removed. This procedure is being performed on super obese patients who are at very high risk of developing complications during more complex operations, such as gastric bypass. This procedure offers the possibility to convert this operation into another one (such as gastric bypass or adjustable gastric banding), if needed. This approach is called “2 - Stage Procedure”. The operation is performed under general anesthesia, takes about 90 minutes and usually patients go home within 48 hours.

Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair

Ventral hernias develop in the abdominal wall usually at the site of a previous incision. This results in a bulge where abdominal contents can be present. The risk of having a ventral hernia is that the can become incarcerated and you may need an emergency operation. Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is done performing 3 small incisions in the abdomen, using an endocamera. Once all the contents are restored into the abdominal cavity, a mesh is placed covering the defect in order to reinforce the abdominal wall. Most patients go home the same day and some may stay overnight. Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair offers less postoperative pain, less hospital stay and faster recovery.

Laparoscopic Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter

Peritoneal dialysis is an alternative to hemodialysis and is used to treat patients with end- stage renal disease. Laparoscopic placement of peritoneal dialysis catheter is a simple procedure that is performed through a small incision in the abdomen, using an endocamera. The tip of the catheter is inserted into the abdominal wall and advanced to the pelvis. The advantage of performing this procedure laparoscopically using only one incision is that diminishes the chances of having fluid from the abdomen leaking from the incisions. The procedure is done under general anesthesia and takes about 20 minutes.

Laparoscopic Splenectomy

The spleen is an intrabdominal organ located in the upper left quadrant. It is part of the immune system and it works identifying and killing bacteria. There are several genetic and acquired conditions that may affect the spleen and in some cases the spleen needs to be removed. Laparoscopic splenectomy is the removal of the spleen through 4 small incisions, using an endocamera. The laparoscopic approach offers shorter hospital stay, less postoperative pain, and faster recovery. The operation is done under general anesthesia, takes between 45 minutes to 1 hour and patients usually go home the next day.