has become the predominant technique in some areas of surgery and has been used for weight loss surgery for several years. Laparoscopic procedures for weight loss surgery employ the same principles as their "open" counterparts and produce similar excess weight loss. Although few bariatric surgeons perform keyhole weight loss surgeries, more are offering patients this less invasive surgical option whenever possible.
How Keyhole Surgery Is Performed
Keyhole surgery is a surgical technique in which short, narrow tubes (trochars) are inserted into the abdomen through small (less than one centimeter) incisions. Through these trochars, long, narrow instruments are inserted. The surgeon uses these instruments to manipulate, cut, and sew tissue.
During keyhole surgery, carbon dioxide gas is infused through one of the trochars into the patient's abdomen. This pushes the anterior abdominal wall upward, and makes room for the surgeon to work. A camera, inserted through one trochar, is linked to a video monitor. This allows the surgeon to view the abdominal contents.
A number of different procedures can be performed through keyhole surgery, including gallbladder removal, esophageal surgery (keyhole fundoplication), colon surgery (lapraoscopic colectomy), and surgery on the stomach and spleen.
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and additional General Surgery procedures at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
One of the nation's preeminent academic medical centers, WFUBMC is an integrated health care system that operates 1,291 acute care, rehabilitation and long-term care beds, outpatient services, and community health and information centers. The Medical Center's component institutions carry out a joint mission of patient care, education, research and community service. The partnership includes three major members: Wake Forest University Health Sciences, North Carolina Baptist Hospital, and Wake Forest University Physicians.