People suffering from colon cancer or digestive disorders like ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis who require surgical treatment now have access to single-incision laparoscopic colectomy — an operation in which a segment or the entire colon is removed with one single-incision through the naval. According to Applied Medical, the surgical device manufacturer, Houston Northwest Medical Center is the only hospital in the Northwest Houston area using the Applied Medical Gelpoint platform for single-incision left colectomy.

In traditional laparoscopic colectomy, four or five small incisions are required to perform the operation to remove the colon. Single-incision surgery is unique in that a single, small, three-centimeter incision is made around the navel to allow instruments to be placed within to extract the colon. After the incision is made, a multi-port trocar (a medical device used to insert laparoscopic instruments) is inserted. A small camera and instruments are then introduced into the incision via the trocar to mobilize the colon from its attachments and remove the specimen from the abdominal cavity.

“Single-incision laparoscopic surgery is an advanced, minimally invasive surgery now available to patients at Houston Northwest Medical Center," says Ted Voloyiannis, M.D., F.A.C.S., colon and rectal surgeon on the medical staff at Houston Northwest Medical Center. "Further studies will be necessary to determine that in fact, healing time may decrease and patients may be able to resume normal activities sooner when compared to laparoscopic patients.”

For a physician referral, call Houston Northwest Medical Center at 281-580-0000.