What is minimally invasive surgery?
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is an approach to surgery that minimizes cutting through your skin and tissues. Surgeons use MIS techniques and technology to cause as little trauma as possible during your procedure. Smaller cuts reduce your potential for pain, complications and recovery time. Healthcare providers perform many common procedures today using minimally invasive surgery techniques.
Advertisem*nt
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
What are the different types of minimally invasive surgery?
Keyhole surgery
Most minimally invasive surgery procedures involve the use of small, “keyhole” incisions to serve as ports for special instruments during your surgery. Depending on the location, these incisions are usually a half-inch long or less. One port provides access for an endoscope, a narrow tube with a lighted camera at the end that projects images to a screen. Surgeons operate through the other ports with long, narrow instruments.
There are different types of endoscopes for different body parts, and sometimes they go by specific names. For example, a laparoscope goes into your abdominal cavity, a thoracoscope goes into your chest cavity and an arthroscope goes into your joints. Surgery using these scopes may be called laparoscopic surgery, thoracoscopic surgery or arthroscopic surgery. These are a few types of minimally invasive surgery.
Robotic surgery
An advanced form of minimally invasive surgery uses robotic arms to operate through the small incisions. This is called robotic surgery. A specially trained surgeon operates the robot arms from a console within the operating room. Robotics allow for greater precision and control in smaller areas. Most robotic surgery procedures use several ports, but sometimes single-port surgery is possible.
Endovascular surgery
Endovascular surgery involves threading a tiny catheter through a blood vessel and operating through it. It takes only one tiny incision to access the blood vessel. Often, endovascular surgeons can puncture the skin with a needle rather than cutting it. This minimizes bleeding. Surgeons thread the catheter over a guidewire, then remove the wire and pass surgical instruments through the catheter to operate.
Endoscopic surgery
Finally, some endoscopes can go through an existing opening in your body, like your nose or mouth. Surgeons can operate through these endoscopes using long, narrow tools, without cutting through your skin at all. This is called “natural orifice” endoscopic surgery. “Endoluminal” procedures happen within the walls of your organ, while “transluminal” procedures cut through one of the walls of your organ.
What are some examples of minimally invasive surgery procedures?
Common examples of minimally invasive surgery procedures include:
FAQs
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is surgery done through small incisions using miniaturized surgical tools and cameras or telescopes. MIS usually results in less scarring and a quicker recovery time compared to open procedures.
What is minimally invasive surgery? ›
Surgery that is done using small incisions (cuts) and few stitches. During minimally invasive surgery, one or more small incisions may be made in the body. A laparoscope (thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing) is inserted through one opening to guide the surgery.
Why is minimally invasive surgery good? ›
In minimally invasive surgery, surgeons use various ways to operate with less damage to the body than with open surgery. In general, minimally invasive surgery is linked to less pain, a shorter hospital stay and fewer complications.
Which of the following is an advantage of minimally invasive surgery? ›
The advantages of minimally invasive operating techniques include: Less pain. Faster recovery. Quicker return to work.
Who is a candidate for minimally invasive surgery? ›
When non-surgical treatments fail to provide symptomatic relief for three months or longer in patients with spinal stenosis, a herniated disc, and spondylolisthesis, a minimally invasive method may be used for treatment. Patients who are elderly are usually suitable candidates for the procedure.
What are the top 3 riskiest surgeries? ›
Which Surgical Procedures Are the Most Dangerous?
- Brain surgery. One of the most dangerous procedures is any type of surgery on the brain or skull. ...
- Heart surgery. ...
- Cancer surgery. ...
- Transplants. ...
- Spinal cord surgery. ...
- What if my doctor made a mistake during my surgery?
(in-VAY-siv proh-SEE-jer) A medical procedure that invades (enters) the body, usually by cutting or puncturing the skin or by inserting instruments into the body.
What is the least serious surgery? ›
Laparoscopy: This was one of the first types of minimally invasive surgery. It involves making tiny incisions and inserting a tube with a light and a camera (the laparoscope) on its end.
What is the least painful surgery? ›
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is an approach to surgery that minimizes cutting through your skin and tissues. Surgeons use MIS techniques and technology to cause as little trauma as possible during your procedure. Smaller cuts reduce your potential for pain, complications and recovery time.
What are the disadvantages of minimally invasive surgery? ›
Overview of MIS Disadvantages:
- Minimally invasive surgery requires specialized high-end medical equipment.
- Surgeons need specialized training.
- The equipment used with MIS is more expensive.
- There are various procedures, especially the most recent surgeries, that may take longer.
Your minimally invasive surgery recovery time may take anywhere from three to six months, but healing is an individual process. That estimate depends on the reason you had surgery, your overall health and other factors. You should restrict your activities for at least six weeks after your surgery.
What surgery has the lowest success rate? ›
Surgeries that have high failure rates:
- Hiatal hernia which is intended to fix the problem of the stomach protruding out of the diaphragm space into the esophageal area.
- Hip resurfacing utilizes a metal cup that fits over the ball of the femur. ...
- Grafts involve replacing patches of skin with treated cadaver tissues.
Local anesthesia: This numbs a small section of your body. Providers commonly use local anesthesia for minimally invasive procedures like cataract surgery or skin biopsy. You're awake during the procedure.
Which procedure is classified as minimally invasive? ›
These include the use of hypodermic injection (using the syringe), an endoscope, percutaneous surgery which involves needle puncture of the skin, laparoscopic surgery commonly called keyhole surgery, a coronary catheter, angioplasty and stereotactic surgery.
Who is a poor candidate for surgery? ›
Pre-existing health conditions, such as cardiovascular problems, diabetes, or autoimmune disorders, can increase the risks associated with surgery and anesthesia. Smoking is another significant concern, as it can impair healing and increase the chances of post-operative complications.
What are the drawbacks of minimally invasive surgery? ›
What are the disadvantages of minimally invasive surgery?
- Requires special training and equipment.
- May not be available locally.
- May be more expensive.
- Operations may take longer.
- May not work in an emergency setting.
- Gas insufflation poses cardiopulmonary risks for some people.
Minimally invasive surgeries only require a very small incision, one so small it isn't noticeable with another treatment that does not involve an incision. The benefits of this procedure are a quicker recovery time, less scarring, and overall fewer risks than a usual invasive procedure.
How long does it take to recover from minimally invasive surgery? ›
Your minimally invasive surgery recovery time may take anywhere from three to six months, but healing is an individual process. That estimate depends on the reason you had surgery, your overall health and other factors. You should restrict your activities for at least six weeks after your surgery.
What are examples of invasive procedures? ›
Invasive Procedures
- Cardiac Catheterization.
- Balloon Angioplasty and Coronary Atherectomy.
- Coronary Stenting.
- Peripheral Vascular Angioplasty, Atherectomy, Stents.
- IVC Filter Placement and Removal.
- Thrombectomy on Deep Vein Thrombosis.
- Varicose Vein Ablation and Phlebectomy Procedures.
- Transvenous Pacemakers.
