The SILS procedure is one of advanced laparoscopy wherein a single port of entry is devised using a special flexible port so that we can enter the abdomen through just one incision on the umbilicus and perform the surgery which would otherwise use 5 ports.
The advantages are immediately evident:
Single port (I can't emphasise this enough)
Less pain
Less recovery time
Obviously better cosmetic outcome
Done correctly the scar from the single incision hides within the umbilicus so virtually scarless!
Absolute boon for young women who need surgery but don't want it to be seen.
For the other side of the coin (and there always is one), it is marginally more expensive (should not be a problem for the kind of patients we're targetting) and requires a learning curve that would be greater than regular laparoscopic surgery.
It was tough, it required skill which my boss very capably handled and it required patience which I think came to the team knowing that we could become part of history.
We have had the company confirm that this was the first of its kind in Asia. We know that other surgical procedures have been carried out using the single port and have been published as well. We know that in the States this procedure is already on the way.
Keeping all this in view, We are all still quite damn proud to be the first in Asia to do what we did because we know that what we did was technically far superior to the other procedures done so far and its only a matter of time till we catch up with our compatriots in the States.
Bottom Line: We did it first!
This is a link for all those who can bear to watch.
Click here to You Tube It!
Squeamish people can stop reading here. Attached below is the picture of the port used and the final appearance on the umbilicus which will be difficult to find in about 3 weeks.
