Incisions Smaller Than a Dime

The Miracle of Minimally Invasive Surgery

Thanks to advances in medicine, many surgeries can be performed on children through an opening no bigger than a dime, and in many cases even smaller. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) features the use of laparoscopic devices and remotely controlled instruments to perform surgery. Instead of making large incisions as in the past, highly trained surgeons insert two small tubes into these openings. One carries a fiber optic camera with a light source while the other has miniaturized instruments. Thanks to MIS, very precise procedures can be performed through very small holes, often requiring just a stitch or two to close.

Far-reaching benefits

For children, MIS procedures mean that recovery times are reduced from weeks to just days in many cases. For a major procedure the recovery time can be cut almost in half. What’s more, there’s less stress on the child and a reduced chance of complications or infection. Scarring is also reduced, since the incisions are so small. For years, Florida Hospital for Children has been at the leading edge of developing minimally invasive surgical techniques for children.