Minimally invasive procedure

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A minimally invasive medical procedure is defined as one that is carried out by entering the body through the skin or through a body cavity or anatomical opening, but with the smallest damage possible to these structures. According to this classification, the two other kinds of procedures are: invasive and non-invasive.

For example, minimally invasive surgery may be performed in this way, thus resulting in less operative trauma for the patient. It is also less expensive, reduces hospitalization time, causes less pain and scarring, speeds recovery, and reduces the incidence of post-surgical complications, such as adhesions. Extensive scientific evidence has been gathered on these benefits (e.g. [1]). However, minimally invasive is not synonymous with minor surgery, because this approach is presently used for performing complex operations such as heart surgery. Due to these advantages, there is currently a powerful trend towards the development and adoption of more minimally invasive procedures.

Minimally-invasive angiography showing the vascular catheter and a stent inserted into an artery

Special medical equipment may be used, such as fiber optic cables, miniature video cameras and special surgical instruments handled via tubes inserted into the body through small openings in its surface. The images of the interior of the body are transmitted to an external video monitor and the surgeon has the possibility of making a diagnosis, visually identifying internal features and acting surgically on them.

Many medical procedures are considered minimally invasive, such as hypodermic injection, air-pressure injection, subdermal implants, endoscopy, percutaneous surgery, laparoscopic surgery, arthroscopic surgery, cryosurgery, microsurgery, keyhole surgery, endovascular surgery (such as angioplasty), coronary catheterization, permanent spinal and brain electrodes, stereotactic surgery, radioactivity-based medical imaging methods, such as gamma camera, Positron emission tomography and SPECT (single photon emission tomography). Related procedures are image-guided surgery, robotic surgery and interventional radiology.

[edit] References

Minimally invasive heart surgery. Medical Encyclopedia, MedlinePlus.
Minimally invasive aortic valve surgery. CTSNet article.
Minimally invasive surgery yields benefits. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Febr. 2003.
Minimally invasive cancer treatments highlighted. Science Daily. Nov. 2005.
Minimal Parathyroid Surgery. The minimally invasive technique utilizing intraoperative nuclear mapping, slso called Minimally Invasive Radioguided Parathyroidectomy, or "MIRP". EndocrineWeb. June 20, 2005.
Kilger E, Weis FC, Goetz AE, Frey L, Kesel K, Schutz A, Lamm P, Uberfuhr P, Knoll A, Felbinger TW, Peter K. Intensive care after minimally invasive and conventional coronary surgery: a prospective comparison. Intensive Care Med. 2001 Mar;27(3):534-9. PMID 11355122