Laparoscopic surgery - an innovative and safe alternative to open surgery

Traditional open surgery has previously been associated with risks of infection, post-operative discomfort, long courses of pain medication, lengthy recovery times and a strict dietary regime. Laparoscopic surgery has been designed to minimise these effects, and maximise the chance for the patient to have a speedy recovery in an innovative and safe way.

The surgery technique

Laparoscopic surgery is performed by feeding thin, flexible tubes through small incisions in order to access the site of the operation.

One of the tubes has a camera to guide the surgeon as they perform the surgery, while each of the other tubes have channels to facilitate the use of tiny surgical instruments.

This technique allows the surgeon to see inside the patient’s body and operate through an incision that is generally 5 – 10mm in length. It is a method that can be used in place of traditional open surgery, which is performed using much larger incisions of up to 30cm and more. Laparoscopic surgery enables surgeons to have greater control during the operation, and effectively reduces the time that the operation lasts.

The benefits laparoscopic surgery can include:

• Small incisions
• Less pain
• Low risk of infection
• Short hospital stay
• Quick recovery time
• Less scarring
• Reduced blood loss

Although minimally invasive surgery is becoming increasingly common, and used almost exclusively in some medical fields, the method isn't suitable for everyone. Occasionally, traditional open surgery provides surgeons better access to the area being treated, and a patient's age, physical condition and surgical history may necessitate open surgery.

Conditions treated by some surgeons using keyhole surgery include:

• Hernias:
  • Diaphragm hernias
  • Hiatal herniа
  • Abdominal wall hernias
  • Inguinal hernia
  • Incisional hernia
  • Femoral hernia
  • Umbilical hernia
• Gallstones (gallbladder removal)
• Appendicitis
• Splenectomy (spleen removal)
• Haemorrhoids
• Colon Cancer
• Diverticulosis and diverticulitis (small, bulging pouches that can form in the lining of your digestive system)

Laparoscopic surgeons

Laparoscopic surgeons can perform complex and delicate procedures through small incisions with unmatched precision. Surgeons affiliated with Bulgaria Medical Travel Partners are among few surgeons in the world that have a wealth of experience with LESS (Laparoscopic Single Site Surgery), where the surgery is performed through one hole only, situated within the ambigual cord. Since May 2016 they have performed all inguinal hernia and appendicitis procedures through single hole surgery.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Teodor Atanasov, MD is among the most distinguished surgeons in Bulgaria. He is one of the four Bulgarian surgeons with the title of ‘fellow’ among the 4000 foreign (non-USA and Canada) surgeons that have been awarded the title by the American College of Surgeons. He is also regarded as a “surgeon of excellence” in hernia surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation, USA. Worldwide these accolades are seen as quality assurance for patient care. Annually he performs more than 700 keyhole surgeries for Bulgaria Medical Travel Partners

About the author

Bulgaria Medical Travel Partner is a medical tourism facilitator that acts in the territory of Bulgaria, does not work exclusively with any particular hospital or hospital group and offers fixed price medical services. Our best services - orthopaedics, keyhole surgery including bariatric, and immediate basal dental implants - are developed around the foremost doctors in the country, who are all internationally recognised world class - top ranked surgeons, and who are practicing the latest innovative surgery techniques.