Single Incision Laparascopy and Laparo Endoscopic Single Site

SILS or LESS

Currently about 65 percent of hysterectomies in the United States are performed through a large abdominal incision. Since the late 1980s and early 1990s, surgeons have been exploring minimally invasive techniques to decrease the complication rates and long recovery time of traditional open hysterectomy. This has lead to the development of conventional laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients who benefit from a minimally invasive approach recover faster with less pain, return to normal activity sooner, and suffer fewer of the complications related to a more invasive procedure. For the last 10 -15 years, gynecologic surgeons have improved at laparoscopic hysterectomy, but the techniques have been relatively unchanged. Although still a great option, the current laparoscopic hysterectomy techniques require several - albeit small - incisions. The next logical step in the progression of medicine is to continue to make the procedure even less invasive by reducing the number of those small incisions. Recent technological advances and training have now made this possible.

Having trained over 350 surgeons from 23 countries, our surgeons are leaders in the field of Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) or Laparo-Endoscopic Single Site (LESS) procedures. With this technique, the entire surgery is performed via a single umbilical incision. This is an exciting new step that is much less invasive than the traditional abdominal approach or even the current laparoscopic assisted vaginal or robotic assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy. With a single small incision in the belly button, there is virtually no visible scar left on the abdomen. Patients can often go home the same day and start to resume normal activities in as little as one to two weeks.

The SILS or LESS technique can be used for:

• Total hysterectomy
• Supracervical hysterectomy
• Vaginal vault suspension for prolapse
• Sacral colpopexy
• Excision of endometriosis
• Myomectomy for fibroid removal
• Ovarian removal
• Appendectomy

If you are interested in learning more about SILS, please call CMC Women's Institute at 704-355-3149.