Minimally Invasive Surgery

Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) is the use of small incisions and special instruments to perform traditional surgical procedures, resulting in minimal tissue trauma, significantly less pain, as well as faster recovery for patients. These techniques have been applied to all types of procedures using the latest technologies including fiber optics, high definition video cameras, robotics, lasers and radiofrequency energy. This has resulted in "laparoscopic" surgery for abdominal procedures, "arthroscopic" surgery for joints, and catheter based procedures for veins and arteries. It is also referred to as Minimal Access Surgery or Keyhole surgery.

Dr. Maccabee completed a 12 month fellowship (an additional year of specialized surgical training in addition to a complete surgical residency) focusing specifically on Laparoscopic Surgery (minimally invasive surgery of the abdomen) at Oregon Health and Sciences University in 2002. Patients benefit from this type of surgery with less pain, fewer days in the hospital, faster return to work, and very small incisions for most surgical problems.

MIS techniques continues to evolve, as do the services that Dr. Maccabee provides. For suitable patients he is now able to offer single port surgery for gallbladder disease - also known as Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS). This technique is a modification of the well accepted traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy technique which has evolved as surgical technology has improved. Appropriate patients have the entire surgical procedure completed through the belly button and have only one small scar which disappears into the belly button. This technique is now being applied to colon surgery and lap band placement on a limited basis as well.