Traditional open surgery
During traditional open surgery, the surgeon makes an incision up to 12 inches
long, from the upper to lower abdomen, to view the colon and remove the
diseased portions. With this procedure, hospital stay is generally a week,
with recovery time ranging from 6 to 8 weeks.3
Minimally invasive colon surgery
During minimally invasive colon surgery, the surgeon makes a series of small
incisions, typically 1/4 inch to 4 inches long, in the patient’s abdomen. A
small video camera is placed in one of the incisions, providing the surgeon
with a magnified view of the patient’s internal organs. Surgical instruments
are placed in the other incisions, allowing the surgeon to work inside and
remove portions of the diseased colon. Minimally invasive colon surgery offers
many benefits over traditional open surgery.
These benefits include1,2
-
Less pain and scarring
-
Quicker recovery time
-
Shorter hospital stay
Should you refer minimally invasive colon surgery?
Discover how your referral can make all the
difference.
Learn more about the risks and complications
associated with any colon surgery.
Find a surgeon who performs both
traditional open surgery and minimally invasive colon surgery.
