Gallbladder surgery: Now possible with only a one-inch incision

Minimally invasive surgery continues to evolve and specialists at McLaren Macomb are leading the way.

A surgical team at McLaren Macomb was the first in Macomb County to offer a new type of laparoscopic procedure for gallbladder removal.

While the surgery once required up to four incisions, it can now be done using Single-Site™ instruments on a da Vinci® System. With this advanced robotic equipment, surgeons are able to remove a patient’s gallbladder through one tiny incision in the belly button, leaving virtually no scar.

That’s good news, since More than 1 million people in the U.S. have their gallbladder removed each year. Most are performed with traditional laparoscopy requiring several incisions.

The benefits of robotic gallbladder surgery

Dr. Roy Hanks, one of a small group of surgeons in the United States who is trained for the complex procedure, said it can be performed in about one hour. Typically, patients are able to go home in less than 24 hours.

The Single-Site procedure also means minimal pain for the patient, less bleeding and a faster recovery.

 "Neither robotic surgery nor single-incision surgery is new,” said Dr. Hanks, “but combining the two to remove the gallbladder requires additional training and special equipment."

He added that McLaren Macomb has made a strong commitment to robotic advancements, the “next step” in the evolution of surgery.

"To be one of the first hospitals to offer this technically advanced surgery demonstrates McLaren Macomb’s leadership in providing patients with the most up-to-date minimally invasive surgical options," he said.

The board-certified surgeons at McLaren Macomb also perform other types of robotic-assisted surgery, including appendectomies, hysterectomy, prostate removal and knee surgery.

Not all surgery is suitable for this kind of technique, but the range of options is increasing as technology continues to improve. Currently surgeons use robotic equipment in several specialties, including gynecology, urology, orthopedics and general surgery.

Click here for more information on robotically assisted surgery.

To find a board-certified surgeon at McLaren Macomb, call the physician finder hotline at 1-855-466-2527 or visit the website.