Colorectal surgeons in the Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute (DDI) were the first in the world to perform a single-port proctocolectomy – removing the entire large intestine and rectum through the belly button using a single-incision. Our program is one of few in the nation offering this procedure, which improves quality of life for patients with colon cancer, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis and constipation. To-date, we have performed more than 150 procedures with excellent results and safety equivalent to traditional laparoscopy.
How does it work?
Single-port colorectal surgery is a form of minimally invasive (laparoscopic) surgery. In traditional laparoscopic surgery, a telescopic rod connected to a video camera (laparoscope) is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen. Three to five additional small incisions are made and used as “ports” in which to insert instruments to remove a colon, in this case. In comparison, the single-port procedure uses only one incision (about 4 mm long) in the belly button.
Benefits of single-port surgery
Because it uses only one port, single-port surgery leaves little to no scarring and may reduce complications that commonly occur after traditional open and even traditional laparoscopic abdominal surgery. The results for patients are reduced pain, minimal or no scarring, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery compared to traditional laparoscopy.
