Single site incision surgery (SILS)
This is proving to be an exciting advancement in my surgical repertoire. It is what I would consider the ultimate in minimally invasive surgery.
In conventional keyhole surgery multiple small cuts are made in the tummy through which a number of instruments are inserted to perform the operation. With SILS, only 1 single cut, usually in the belly button, is used. Through this all the instruments are passed and the surgery undertaken. Complex major surgery can be perfomred this way including
- hysterectomy
- removal of fibroids
- removal of ectopic pregnancy
- removal of ovarian cysts
In my experience, this technique has prove to be very useful in removing large pelvic lumps like ovarian cysts and fibroids. It has the benefits of:
- Single small cut
- Less pain
- Superior cosmetic result
- Improved convalesence
Tecnically more difficult to perform, it is very satisfying to view the end result, like in the picture posted. Here the only sign of the operation is a small cut in the belly button. In appropriate cases, I would offer this option for surgery.