“Minimally-invasive” surgeries

“Minimally-invasive” surgeries include modern operating techniques which are highly technical, meaning it is possible to minimise the “surgical invasiveness” experienced by the patient. These procedures involve small incisions or no incisions at all (e.g. tracheal stent). If the aesthetic advantage is clear, the benefit for the patient is to minimise pain, the risk of infection and the difficulty and duration of post-operative care.

Minimally-invasive surgery is carried out for 2 major indications :

- The first is a diagnostic indication. This involves exploring the organ using a camera in order to take biopsies for bacteriological and/or histological analysis (for example, a thoracoscopy for the thorax, laparoscopy for the abdomen or an arthroscopy to explore the joints).

- The second indication is therapeutic. It involves an intervention in order to treat the illness (e.g. to remove a fragment of cartilage which is causing problems for a joint).