Are you afraid of surgery? Let's learn about Single-Port Surgery!

An operation, that is, a surgery, makes your body go numb, doesn't it? The biggest fear that comes to mind is that you will have to make a big incision, stay in the hospital for several days, and then stay in bed for several months until you recover. Not only that, but many people also worry about the scars that appear from that big incision for life. However, in this era of advanced medical science, you will be surprised to know that there are ways to reduce that fear to a great extent. That is what we are going to talk about today, a new and amazing technology.

What is this single-port surgery?

Simply put, Single-Port Surgery is a method of performing an entire surgical procedure through just one small incision in the body. This small incision is usually made in your abdomen, sometimes in the groin. However, the location of this incision may vary slightly depending on the type of surgery being performed.

Imagine this, it's like entering a house through a single door, doing everything inside the house, and coming out through the same door again. The doctor inserts a special device called a 'port' through this small incision. Then, all the equipment needed for the surgery, such as cameras and scissors, is passed into the body through this port.

This method is now used for many types of surgeries. Specialist doctors, especially in diseases related to the urinary system (urology), often use this method.

So what is Single-Port Robotic Surgery?

This is the latest marvel of technology. What happens here is that a special robotic technology is added to the Single-Port method we talked about earlier. Instead of the doctor directly controlling the equipment manually, he controls a very delicate robotic arm through a computer system.

The advantage of this is that these robotic arms can perform delicate, precise movements that a human arm cannot. Also, the parts inside the body can be magnified and clearly viewed through a high-powered camera. This allows the surgery to be performed very safely and with great precision . This method was first used in 2018. Since then, the results of patients who have undergone surgery using this method have been very high.

What is the difference between this and other surgical procedures?

There are different methods of performing surgery. The method that is most suitable for you depends on your condition, your overall health, and the experience of the surgeon. Let's try to clearly understand the differences between these methods.

What kind of surgeries is this method used for?

This single-port approach is now used for a wide range of surgeries involving various organ systems in the body. Here are a few examples:

• Kidney-related surgeries:
• Removal of a kidney (nephrectomy)
• Removal of a healthy kidney for kidney donation (kidney donor nephrectomy)
• Kidney transplant
• Repair of obstructions between the kidney and ureter (pyeloplasty)
• Prostate-related surgeries:
• Prostatectomy
• Bladder-related surgeries:
• Bladder removal (cystectomy)

Who can undergo this single-port surgery?

This single-port method is suitable for anyone who is generally eligible for robotic surgery.

What's also special is that this method can sometimes be used by people who are not eligible for regular robotic surgery. For example:

• People who have had several major abdominal surgeries in the past.
• People with severe heart or lung conditions.

However, the final decision on which surgical procedure is best for you will be made by your surgeon, who will carefully examine your health condition.

How do you prepare before surgery?

Okay, now let's see how you should prepare before the operation. Your doctor will explain all this to you. Here are some general things to follow:

• Fasting: You cannot eat or drink anything for at least 8 hours before the surgery. It is not recommended to drink even a little water. However, if you must take an essential medication, you can take it with a sip of water. Ask your doctor about this and make sure.
• Clothing: You may feel some pain and discomfort in the abdominal area after the surgery. So wear loose, comfortable clothing . Wear comfortable shoes with low heels.
• No jewelry: Do not wear any jewelry. Jewelry can contain germs and can cause infection in the wound.
• No nail polish: Remove nail polish or acrylic nails. They can harbor germs. Also, during surgery, a device called a pulse oximeter will be attached to your finger. Nail polish can interfere with the readings.

What happens during surgery?

This process is very planned.

1. Anesthesia: First, the anesthesiologist will put you under general anesthesia. This means you won't feel anything, you'll be completely asleep.

2. Making the incision: The surgeon will then make the same small incision we talked about in your abdomen or near your navel.

3. Preparing the space: Next, your abdominal cavity will be inflated with carbon dioxide gas. Don't worry, this is done to create space for the surgeon to clearly view the organs inside and to manipulate the instruments.

4. Surgery: Then, robotic instruments and a camera are inserted through the small incision, and the doctor performs the surgery very delicately while looking at the computer screen.

Typically, the entire process can take between two and four hours, depending on the type of surgery being performed.

What are the advantages of the Single-Port Surgery method?

You will be truly surprised if you ask about the advantages of this method.

• Almost no scarring: Since there is only one small incision, it is difficult to even find a scar after healing.
• Fewer complications: The risk of complications such as infection and excessive bleeding that can occur during regular open surgeries is much lower.
• Very little pain: As patients report, the pain felt after this procedure is much less than other methods.
• You can go home early: Sometimes you may be able to go home the same evening as the surgery .
• Recovery is very quick: you can resume normal activities within a few days.
• Multiple operations through one incision: Imagine you need to have your prostate and part of your kidney removed. In a conventional procedure, this would require two separate surgeries or two large incisions. But with the Single-Port procedure, both surgeries can be done at the same time through one small incision .

Are there no disadvantages or risks?

As with any surgery, there are some risks, but they are very minimal.

The main challenge is that this surgery requires a highly skilled and experienced surgeon . Because handling all the instruments in one place is a bit more complicated than a regular laparoscopic surgery. Therefore, it is very important to choose a hospital with good facilities and an experienced doctor who regularly performs this type of surgery.

In addition, there are some common risks to any surgery:

• Risks associated with anesthesia.
• Wound infection.
• Damage to an internal organ.
• Wound healing problems.
• Fluid accumulation around the wound (seroma).
• Bleeding.

Your doctor will tell you more about this.

How long does it take to heal? When should I see a doctor?

If this surgery is performed by a highly experienced surgeon, you can return to a completely normal life within a short period of time, such as two to four weeks .

But remember, it's important to rest your body while you're healing. Ask a family member or friend to help with heavy household chores and yard work.

Having surgery can be scary. But thanks to modern technologies like Single-Port Surgery, that fear can now be greatly reduced. It causes minimal damage to the body, heals quickly, and is less painful. If you are scheduled for surgery, talk to your doctor about this procedure. He or she will be able to give you more information about the best option for you.