Mr Ashwini K Trehan MBBS, DRCOG, FRCOG, FRCS (Edin)

Consultant Minimal Access Gynaecologist

(with special interest in Endometriosis and Keyhole Surgery)

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF KEYHOLE SURGERY

ADVANTAGES OF LAPAROSCOPIC (KEYHOLE) SURGERY

BENEFIT TO PATIENTS

•Less post operative pain
•Less wound complications:
      -Infection
      -Haematoma (blood collection in the wound)
      -Dehiscence (wound gaping)
      -Hernia (weak wound resulting in protrusion of abdominal content)
• Less disruption to bowel and bladder function
• Less infection of operation site
• Less risk of chest infection
• Less risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (clot formation in the leg veins)
• Less adhesion (sticking of the organ) formation
• Better cosmetic results
• Shorter convalescent time and so less disruption to family life and early return to work
• Less restriction to type of work one can do post-operatively

BENEFIT TO HOSPITAL

• Saving of Hospital Beds due to early discharge from hospital results in
      - Resource saving as each day in hospital costs approximately £200 - £350/Day
      - Less Cancellation of elective operations due to more availability of beds
      - Reduction of waiting time in A&E department due to more availability of beds
• Reduction of Hospital acquired infection due to early discharge from hospital
(Long stay in the hospital is one of the causes of hospital-acquired infection)
      - Resource saving as hospital infection costs NHS £1 billion per year
      - Hospital infection affects 1 in 11 NHS patients & kills 5000 patients a year

BENEFIT TO COMMUNITY (TREASURY)

• Early recovery and return to work saves treasury billions of pounds
By decreasing
      - the loss of production
      - hiring extra staff
      - cost of treatment

RISKS, COMPLICATIONS & PROGNOSIS

No major operation (keyhole/traditional) is complication/risk free. There are risks of general anaesthetic and surgery. Although rare, risks of surgery include: Injury to internal organ, such as bowel, bladder (urine bag), ureter (tube carrying urine), blood vessels; infection, haemorrhage (blood loss); blood clots etc.

In experienced hands, the complications of keyhole operation are likely to be less than traditional operations. The only assurance Mr. Trehan can give to his patients is that he has an excellent past record of keyhole surgery. Click here to view his outcome results

You should also be aware there is no 100% guarantee that your symptoms will be fully cured following the surgery or you will definitely achieve pregnancy if you had your operation for fertility. You are free to discuss these risks and prognosis before you sign the consent.