Single incision surgery is a type of surgery in which a surgeon makes a single cut in the patient’s body and performs the necessary procedures through that incision. It is most common in surgeries in which an organ or part of an organ is being removed, such as gall bladder removal surgery. This type of surgery is beneficial to patients because it typically requires less time on the operating table and a shorter overall recovery time.
In the past, surgeries to remove organs typically required making at least one large incision, and in some cases, multiple incisions. Laparoscopic surgery, a procedure that involves making very small incisions and using a tiny camera to guide the surgeon, changed the way many types of surgeries were performed. Most laparoscopic surgeries still involved making several incisions, but they were typically significantly smaller than incisions made prior to the widespread use of the laparoscope. A single incision surgery also uses a laparoscope to guide the surgeon, but is even less invasive than earlier types of laparoscopic surgeries.
One of the main benefits of a single incision surgery is that it typically significantly reduces the length of time the patient spends in recovery, both in the hospital and at home. Large or multiple incisions are more prone to infection and other complications, and take much longer to heal. A single, small incision leaves less area exposed to bacteria and irritation. It is important for patients to follow all post-operative instructions, however, because even a small incision can become infected.
A single incision also decreases the chance of scarring, especially when the incision is made close to the belly button, where it can be more easily hidden. Typically, the incision is shorter than an inch long. In many cases, this type of surgery can also decrease the risk of scarring inside the body. Scar tissue around the organs can lead to pain and other complications, making single incision surgery a better choice for some types of procedures.
Not all surgeries can be performed using the single incision technique, although surgeons are continuously researching new ways to reduce the number and length of cuts required to perform procedures. For example, major heart surgery typically still requires surgeons to open up the chest cavity so that they can have full access to the heart. On the other hand, minor heart procedures, such as placing a stent into an artery, can be performed using a single incision.
