What Is Endoscopic Surgery, And How Does It Differ From Other Surgery Types?
Endoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery that uses specialized instruments and cameras to diagnose, treat, and manage medical conditions.
It’s becoming increasingly popular in the medical field due to its potential for faster recovery times, less pain and discomfort, reduced risk of infection, and fewer complications than traditional surgery methods.
Read on to delve into endoscopic surgery, exploring what it is, how it differs from other surgical techniques and its benefits.
What Is Endoscopic Surgery?
Endoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique that uses an endoscope to view and operate on the internal organs and structures of the body.
Unlike traditional open surgery, endoscopic surgery involves making small incisions in the skin and inserting a thin, flexible endoscope into the body through these small incisions.
The endoscope provides high-definition images of the internal organs and structures, allowing the surgeon to perform surgery without needing large incisions.
For example, with endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery, the surgeon would make a small incision to reach the median nerve and help reduce the patient’s carpal tunnel syndrome much less invasively.
How Does Endoscopic Surgery Differ From Other Surgical Techniques?
Endoscopic surgery differs from traditional open surgery in several ways.
Smaller incision
Endoscopic surgery is minimally invasive, which means it involves making smaller incisions in the skin compared to traditional open surgery. This smaller incision reduces the amount of trauma to the body and leads to less pain, less scarring, and a faster recovery time for the patient.
Less invasive
Endoscopic surgery is less invasive than laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery involves making several small incisions in the skin and inserting instruments through these incisions to perform surgery. However, with endoscopic surgery, only a small incision is made, reducing the risk of infection and complications associated with multiple incisions.
Better view
Endoscopic surgery offers a better view of the internal organs and structures of the body than laparoscopic surgery. This better view is possible because the endoscope provides high-definition images of the internal organs and structures, allowing the surgeon to view the area being operated on in great detail.
Related: The Role Of Robotics In Surgery And Patient Care
What Are The Benefits Of Endoscopic Surgery?
There are several benefits of endoscopic surgery, which have contributed to its growing popularity in recent years.
Reduced risk
Compared to traditional open surgery, endoscopic surgery is associated with a reduced risk of complications, such as bleeding and infection. There is less risk because the endoscope provides a clear view of the internal organs and structures, reducing the risk of accidental damage to other structures.
Shorter hospital stay
Endoscopic surgery is often associated with a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery time than traditional open surgery. Most endoscopies require only an overnight stay (or even just an afternoon procedure) before being discharged from hospital care.
In contrast, many traditional surgeries may require two or three days in the hospital before returning home. The smaller incisions used in endoscopic surgery cause less trauma to the body, allowing patients to recover more quickly.
Final Thoughts
Endoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that offers many benefits over traditional surgery methods. With small incisions and specialized tools, surgeons can perform complex surgeries with minimal discomfort and a faster recovery time.
Endoscopic surgery is an excellent option for many procedures, including those involving the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, and brain.
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