Health Library Logo

Health Library

Minimally invasive surgery

About this test

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. Laparoscopy is surgery done through one or more small cuts, called incisions, using small tubes and tiny cameras and surgical tools.

Why it's done

Minimally invasive surgery came about in the 1980s as a safe way to meet the surgical needs of many people. In the last 20 years, many surgeons have come to prefer it to open, also called traditional, surgery. Open surgery most often needs larger cuts and a longer hospital stay. Since then, the use of minimally invasive surgery has spread widely in many surgical areas, including colon surgery and lung surgery. Talk with your surgeon about whether minimally invasive surgery would be a good choice for you.

Risks and complications

Minimally invasive surgery uses smaller surgical cuts, and most often is less risky than open surgery. But even with minimally invasive surgery, there are risks of complications with medicines that put you in a sleep-like state during surgery, bleeding and infection.

Address: 506/507, 1st Main Rd, Murugeshpalya, K R Garden, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560075

Disclaimer: August is a health information platform and its responses don't constitute medical advise. Always consult with a licenced medical professional near you before making any changes.

Made in India, for the world