Minimal Access Surgery Program at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/
Columbia University Medical Center
Surgical Director, Minimal Access Surgery Program; Director, Columbia University Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery.
Scarless surgery refers to a new, minimally invasive treatment option for procedures that previously required abdominal incisions. Scarless procedures involve less pain, shorter recovery times and improved cosmetic outcomes even compared to laparoscopic surgery. These surgical procedures are performed through the body's natural orifices without need for external incisions. All scarless procedures are performed with the patient under general anesthesia.
In natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (or NOTES), the surgeon makes an internal incision through the wall of an organ or internal cavity, such as the stomach, or behind the uterus (retro-uterine) to access internal organs.
In endolumenal surgery, performed for procedures including fundoplication for GERD and reduction of the stomach pouch in revision of obesity procedures, there are no incisions at all and surgery is performed from within the organ itself.
The Minimal Access Surgery Program also offers single port surgery, in which special articulating laparoscopic instruments are inserted through a single incision in the navel. The technique can be used for gallbladder removal and the weight loss procedure sleeve gastrectomy in men—or women who prefer the option over the natural orifice approach. It is also used for appendectomy. Single port surgery provides a better cosmetic outcome than traditional minimally invasive procedures. Recovery time is similar to other abdominal minimal access operations.
The multidiscisplinary team at the Minimal Access Surgery Program includes gastroenterologists surgeons, interventional endoscopists, and gynecologists who work together to conduct this range of surgeries. The surgeries are currently conducted as part of a series of clinical studies. Currently available surgeries include:
- Gallbladder removal—retro-uterine
- Gallbladder removal—single port
- Appendectomy—single port
- Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) treatment—endoscopic
- Revision of obesity surgery—endoscopic
- Sleeve gastrectomy obesity surgery—single port
