Laparoscopic and robotic surgery are common procedures used to treat abdominal masses. Unlike traditional or open surgery, both laparoscopic and robotic surgeries are minimally invasive. They do not require the use of large incisions or surgical areas. Both types of surgeries utilize similar techniques, but a primary difference between the two is laparoscopic surgery utilizes a special slender tube with a light and camera that displays the surgical field in 3D on a monitor and special surgical instruments for cutting and manipulating tissue.
Besides carrying a much lower risk of adverse surgical and postoperative events, both laparoscopic and robotic surgeries offer significant advantages over open surgery for abdominal masses. Having surgery for abdominal masses may seem frightening, especially if you don’t know what to expect. To help address any questions or concerns patients may have about their upcoming procedure, we’ve put together this short guide on what to expect with laparoscopic and robotic surgery for abdominal masses.
Laparoscopic Abdominal Robotic Surgery
To address abdominal masses via laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon makes a keyhole incision that is less than 1-inch near the belly button. The incision is just large enough to insert a small laparoscope, a skinny tube with a camera that transmits images of the surgical field onto a monitor that magnifies the images for the surgeon to see. Advantages of laparoscopic surgery for abdominal masses include:
- Smaller, fewer incisions
- Less surgical trauma
- Faster recovery
Robotic Abdominal Surgery
Addressing abdominal masses with robotic surgery involves the use of the da Vinci Robotic Surgery System. Robotic surgery is performed similarly to laparoscopic surgery, but instead of the surgeon using his hands to perform the procedure, he uses the da Vinci robot’s arms to hold the surgical tools and perform the surgery. Key advantages of robotic surgery include:
- Greater range of motion and dexterity
- Suitable for nontraditional patients
- Greater surgical accuracy and precision
- Better patient outcomes
- Fewer surgical incisions
- Less skin tissue and muscle manipulation
Both laparoscopic and robotic surgeries are generally performed in a single day as an outpatient procedure. That means patients go home the same day, a few hours after their surgeries instead of being admitted to the hospital for up to one week for post-operative medical observation before their discharge home.
How to Prepare Minimally Invasive Surgery for Abdominal Masses
Avoid stress: It’s normal for patients to feel stress and anxiety before their procedures. Stress does affect the way the body responds and recovers from surgery. High cortisol (stress hormone) levels lead to poor outcomes in all types of medical procedures, not just laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgeries. Cortisol interferes with the body’s healing functions and lowers its immunity against infections.
High-stress levels also reportedly lead to an increase of pain and discomfort, healing impairments, an increased dependence on pain killers and medications and adverse events/complications during and after recovery. To minimize the risk of complications and ensure an optimal outcome, patients should work to lower their stress levels.
Get more rest: Sleep is when the body’s restorative and healing processes take over. Ideally, patients should be well-rested and of average health before. Good sleep hygiene in the weeks before surgery reduces the amount and severity of pain, discomfort, swelling, complications, and analgesic use, leading to better outcomes.
Adopt healthier habits: Healthy habits help lower the chances of issues occurring during and after robotic and laparoscopic surgery. A healthier lifestyle means less stress and optimal wellness. It also means refraining from smoking and alcohol. Adopting a health-conscious diet provides the nourishment necessary to get the body in peak condition for surgery. Good nutrition is essential for proper healing and a quicker recovery period.
Post-Operative Recovery
Both laparoscopic and robotic surgery patients spend less time recovering than traditional or open surgery candidates. Both procedures require a smaller surgical field. Instead of the surgeon making several large incisions across the patient’s stomach and abdominal area, one, he only makes a few tiny cuts depending on the type of minimally invasive abdominal surgery performed.
Less pain, discomfort, and cosmetic effects are significant reasons why many patients choose to have their surgeries done laparoscopically or robotically. Surgery performed by hand traumatizes and damages the skin, muscles, and tissues in and near the surgical field. Surgery is also a traumatic event that stresses the body. Robotic-assist and laparoscopic surgeries for abdominal masses are less traumatic so patients experience less soreness, bruising, scarring, discoloration, and faster healing.
Traditional abdominal mass surgery requires a short residency at a hospital, with more post-operative activities restrictions, and a longer healing and recovery period, unlike laparoscopic and robot-assisted procedures. The recovery time for most abdominal surgeries is three to four weeks. Most laparoscopic and robotic surgery patients are back to their usual activities, analgesic-free, and without restrictions within one-month post-operatively.
Discover Minimally Invasive Surgery for Stomach and Abdominal Masses
Orange County Robotic General Surgery offers traditional and minimally invasive surgery and medical options for patients with abdominal masses or stomach conditions. To learn more about laparoscopic and robotic surgery, call (714)-541-4996 to set up an appointment to discuss your situation with Dr. Khosravi, M.D., FACS.
Contact Us
To find out if inguinal hernia repair surgery is right for you, Contact Orange County General Robotic Surgery at (714) 706-1257 for a consultation with Dr. Abtin H. Khosravi.
