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General Surgery

Laparoscopy: General Surgery

MIS, or minimally invasive surgery, (laparoscopy) is a surgical technique that allows surgeons to operate through very small incisions. Usually these measure less than an inch in length. The surgeons use special instruments called trocars to access the abdominal cavity. The abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide gas to create a working space for the surgeon. With the use of special instruments, high definition cameras and video monitors, the surgeon can perform the operation safely and effectively. At the end of the operation, the gas is released, leaving only a few small incisions. Patients who undergo MIS procedures typically experience less pain, less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and return to their normal lives quicker than patients who undergo open surgeries. The General Surgery Division of the Kaiser East Bay MIS group offers the following MIS procedures: