Kids usually have a scar for life when they get their appendix removed. But, pediatric patients can now leave the hospital without any evidence of going under the knife.
Blank Children's Hospital Dr. Michael Irish asks patient Katherine Smith, "How's your belly button looking?" The sixth grader is happy to show off her belly button. That's where Dr. Irish removed her appendix this summer. She says, "I was the first person in the state of Iowa to get my appendix out of my belly button."
Dr. Irish used the SILS procedure. It's laparoscopic surgery with a single incision through the belly button. He says, "It's really an application of the technical skills and approaches we already use in minimally invasive surgery. What it does now is allow us to do everything we've already done through one incision only."
Dr. Irish says he uses a small device and inserts it in the belly button. He says, "All the instruments cameras and other things you use to do surgery then go through these holes."
He says he can put three to four instruments in the port, then remove everything, leaving only a tiny hole. He says the biggest benefit is appearance. He says, "You don't have 3 or 4 different incisions, or in traditional surgery, we've had an open incision, or one very large incision." Katherine says she's happy you can't see her surgery scar, since she's going to live with it the rest of her life.
Dr. Irish says as more doctors perform this on pediatric patients, they'll be able to see if there are any additional benefits. Since Katherine's surgery this summer, he's removed several appendixes with the procedure, as well as a gallbladder.
Blank Children's Hospital Dr. Michael Irish asks patient Katherine Smith, "How's your belly button looking?" The sixth grader is happy to show off her belly button. That's where Dr. Irish removed her appendix this summer. She says, "I was the first person in the state of Iowa to get my appendix out of my belly button."
Dr. Irish used the SILS procedure. It's laparoscopic surgery with a single incision through the belly button. He says, "It's really an application of the technical skills and approaches we already use in minimally invasive surgery. What it does now is allow us to do everything we've already done through one incision only."
Dr. Irish says he uses a small device and inserts it in the belly button. He says, "All the instruments cameras and other things you use to do surgery then go through these holes."
He says he can put three to four instruments in the port, then remove everything, leaving only a tiny hole. He says the biggest benefit is appearance. He says, "You don't have 3 or 4 different incisions, or in traditional surgery, we've had an open incision, or one very large incision." Katherine says she's happy you can't see her surgery scar, since she's going to live with it the rest of her life.
Dr. Irish says as more doctors perform this on pediatric patients, they'll be able to see if there are any additional benefits. Since Katherine's surgery this summer, he's removed several appendixes with the procedure, as well as a gallbladder.
