Urologists at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) are advancing the frontiers of minimally invasive surgery as they begin to introduce single-port access (SPA) surgery to the Rochester region.
Since November 2008, URMC urologists have completed six SPA surgeries entirely through the navel, including what is believed to be the nation's first single incision laparoscopic surgery to remove both kidneys from a patient.
Traditional laparoscopic surgery involves making up to a half dozen incisions in the abdominal area, with the number of holes dependent on the particular procedure being performed. Laparoscopic instruments and a camera are then inserted through the holes to complete the surgery; surgeons are able to view their work on video screens in real-time via broadcast signals from the tiny camera.
With SPA surgery, surgeons make only one small incision in the naval area, through which they insert flexible instruments. The tips of these newer instruments can be articulated and rotated 360 degrees, giving surgeons the ability to reach all necessary areas in a procedure.
According to Assistant Professor of Urology Guan Wu, M.D., who is leading the effort to introduce SPA surgeries here in Rochester, the nation's first SPA surgery was performed in May 2007 to remove a gallbladder. Since that time, SPA surgery has steadily been gaining ground nationwide and extended to a variety of more complex procedures.