When compared to traditional open surgery, the recovery from a laparoscopic colectomy can be shorter and less uncomfortable.
Laparoscopic surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery. Instead of one large incision, the surgeon makes a few very small incisions (about ¼ to ½ inch) into the abdomen to insert a small surgical camera and instruments. A slightly bigger incision, about two inches wide, is made to remove the tumor and any other tissue.
Advantages to laparoscopic surgery versus open procedures include:
Speedier return to normal activities
Many colorectal cancer patients are good candidates for laparoscopic colectomy surgery.
The best option for you depends on several factors, including:
This short video tells the story of Colorado resident Brittany Slater, whose life was turned upside-down by a colon cancer diagnosis at age 23. Her tale demonstrates the differences between an open procedure and a laparoscopic surgery.
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