surgical procedures

What Are Traditional Surgeries

Dr. Chopra and his MIMIT staff include General and Vascular Surgeons and Interventional Radiologists (IR’s). Typically IR and Surgery compete with each other. The dilemma has been doing what is best for the patient, not for the practice. In order to achieve this, Dr. Chopra incorporated both specialties into one practice. This eliminates competition and encourages collaboration. A true benefit to patients seeking quality healthcare. General and Vascular Surgeons perform a wide array of services. Many of these surgeries utilize the most state-of-the-art techniques, thus they also are minimally invasive.

Procedures Incudes:

LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY

Laparoscopic surgery, also known as Minimally Invasive Surgery, is a surgery that is performed using small incisions. Once the incisions are made, tiny instruments and cameras can be advanced to allow the surgeon to see and perform the surgery in less time and with less pain and recovery.

Although Laparoscopic surgery has been performed for many years, MIMIT physicians are routinely introduced to new techniques. As technology improves, so does the need for advancement by our physicians.

Surgeons Perform:

• Ventral Hernia

• Inguinal Hernia

• Cholecystectomy/Gallbladder

• Splenectomy

• Thoracoscopy

Is important to note that sometimes it is not possible for the surgeon to use the laparoscopic technique because it may be difficult to see or handle the organs safely. The surgeon may decide to convert laparoscopic surgery to an open procedure in certain situations and for patient safety. Though very infrequent, when conversion to an open technique occurs, it should not be considered a failure of the procedure. Our team will discuss this with you when you are evaluated and being considered for laparoscopic surgery.

VENTRAL HERNIA

Approximately 600,000 hernia repair operations are performed annually in the United States. Many are performed by the conventional "open" method. Some are performed laparoscopically. Laparoscopic hernia repair is a relatively new surgical technique to fix tears in the abdominal wall (muscle) using small incisions, a patch (mesh), and special cameras to view inside the body. It frequently offers a more rapid recovery for the patient, less postoperative pain, and a quicker return to work and normal activities.

A ventral hernia, occurs in the midline of the abdomen, usually above the navel (belly button). This type of hernia is usually painless. When a ventral hernia occurs, it is because the abdominal muscles have weakened, this results in a bulge or a tear. In the same way that an inner tube pushes through a damaged tire, the inner lining of the abdomen pushes through the weakened area of the abdominal wall to form a balloon-like sac. This can allow a loop of intestines or other abdominal contents to push into the sac. If the abdominal contents get stuck within the sac, they can become trapped or “incarcerated.” This could lead to potentially serious problems that might require emergency surgery.

A hernia does not get better over time, nor will it go away by itself. Performing this surgery laparoscopically saves the patient trauma and shortens the recovery time significantly versus open repair.

INGUINAL HERNIA

Approximately 600,000 hernia repair operations are performed annually in the United States. Many are performed by the conventional “open” method. Some are performed laparoscopically. Laparoscopic hernia repair is a relatively new surgical technique to fix tears in the abdominal wall (muscle) using small incisions, a patch (mesh), and special cameras to view inside the body. It frequently offers a more rapid recovery for the patient, less postoperative pain, and a quicker return to work and normal activities.

The most common location for hernias is the groin (or inguinal) area. There are several reasons for this tendency. First, there is a natural anatomical weakness in the groin region which results from incomplete muscle coverage. Second, the upright position of human posture results in a greater force pushing toward the bottom of the abdomen, thereby increasing the stress on these weaker tissues. The combination of these factors over time breaks down the support tissues, enlarging any preexisting hole, or leads to a tear resulting in a new hole. Performing this surgery laprascopically saves the patient trauma and shortens the recovery time significantly versus open repair.

CHOLECYSTECTOMY/GALLBLADDER

A cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gallbladder. Using advanced laparoscopic technology, it is now possible to remove the gallbladder through a tiny incision at the navel.

The main benefit of this procedure is the ease of recovery for the patient. There is no incision pain as occurs with standard abdominal surgery. The patient is up and about the same day. In fact, up to 90% of patients go home the same day. The remainder are usually discharged the next day. And within several days, normal activities can be resumed. So the recovery time is much quicker. Also, there is no scar on the abdomen.

SPLENECTOMY

Laparoscopic splenectomy is the surgical removal of the spleen. It differs from the traditional “open” technique in that the procedure is performed through small incisions. This usually allows a much faster recovery and is significantly less painful.

THORACOSCOPY

A thoracoscopy (also known as a video assisted thoracic surgery, or VATS) uses an endoscope to visually examine the pleura (the cavity around the lungs), lungs, and mediastinum (central portion of the chest) and to obtain tissue for testing purposes. An endoscope is an illuminated optic instrument that is inserted through an incision.

• VATS lobectomy

• Wedge resection

• Lung biopsy

• Drainage of pleural effusions

• Mediastinal, pericardial and thymus thoracoscopic procedures

BREAST SURGERY

MIMIT surgeons are experts in Breast Cancer surgery. Our team works closely with the radiologists and oncologists at various hospitals. Most women with breast cancer have some type of surgery during the course of treatment. Surgery is often needed to remove a breast tumor. Surgery is also used to check the lymph nodes under the arm for cancer spread. Options for this include a sentinel lymph node biopsy and an axillary (armpit) lymph node dissection.