Miami, Florida 33136
Tel: 305-326-6480
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Newsletter
The newsletter for the Center of Excellence for Laparoscopic and Minimally Surgery is below in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. The newsletter provides you with information on education and training activities, educational research, and other related topics. Your input, feedback, or questions are welcome at miscenter@med.miami.edu.
Featured Article from the Winter 2009 Newsletter
Center Hosts One of the First Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery Courses
On December 5, 2008, an education and training course for the new technique of single incision laparoscopic surgery was held at the Center of Excellence for Laparoscopic and Minimally Invasive Surgery. The course was directed by Alberto R. Iglesias, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery with the Division of Laparoendoscopic and Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Iglesias pioneered the technique at the Univesity of Miami Miller School of Medicine as reported in the Fall 2008 issue of the Center's newsletter. He was also interviewed about the new technique in January by CBS-TV Channel 4.
The new technique of single incision laparosocpic surgery may benefit the patient as it seems to be the least invasive and offers a faster recovery and a better cosmetic outcome. During single incision laparoscopic surgery, instead of the surgeon making four small abdominal incisions, a single incision is made through the middle of the patient's belly button. Two ports are inserted in the incision allowing for the entry of a camera and the laparoscopic instruments. Once the single incision heals, it is almost impossible to detect within the belly button.
Ten surgeons from Florida attended the course which included idactic presentations, live surgery transmitted to the Center from Jackson Memorial Hospital (JMH), and a hands on session. Atul K. Madan, MD taught the Single Incision Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding technique as well to the participants. A follow up survey will be sent to all attendees to obtain input on the effect of participating in the course on their actual surgical practice.
Other faculty members from the Division of Laparoendoscopic and Bariatric Surgery involved in the course were: Jose M. Martinez, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery; and Emanuele Lo Memzo, MD, PhD., Assistant Professor of Surgery.
Dr. Iglesias said, "We were proud to be one of the first Centers in the United States to teach this novel technique to practicing laparoscopic surgeons." For more information concerning Single Incision Laparoscopy, contact Dr. Alberto R. Iglesias at 305-243-2424 or aiglesias2@med.miami.edu. For more information concerning Single Incision Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery, contact Dr. Atul K. Madan at 305-243-2424 or amadan@med.miami.edu.
Featured Article from the Fall 2008 Newsletter
First 'No-Scar' Gallbladder Removal Performed at UMH/JMH
"One patient asked me if I had really taken out his gallbladder since he could not detect a scar," Dr. Alberto Iglesias recalled a patient saying after performing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy with only a single incision. Dr. Iglesias, Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery in the Division of Laparoendoscopic and Bariatric Surgery, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, has now performed 10 such surgeries. He is the first surgeon at the University of Miami Hospital (UMH) and Jackson Memorial Hospital (JMH) to do what is being referred to as 'no-scar' or single incision surgery.
The 10 procedures, all laparoscopic cholecystectomies or minimally invasive removal of the gallbladder, were performed at UMH and JMH. Dr. Iglesias added, "The patients have been very happy with the results." This method of removing the gallbladder is the latest technological advance in minimally invasive surgery. He explained that the surgical technique for the laparoscopic cholectystectomy has not changed. The difference is instead of making three small abdominal incisions as in regular minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, only one incision is made. This single incision is made through the middle of the patient's belly button. Two ports are then inserted in the incision allowing for the entry of a camera and the laparoscopic instruments normally used. The single incision heals and is hard to detect within the belly button.
This single incision technique has been used for gallbladder removal. However, Dr. Iglesias plans to expand the technique to other routine laparoscopic procedures such as anti-reflux surgery, appendectomies, and inguinal hernias. He presently performs laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery at UMH, JMH and the Miami Veterans Hospital. For more information on this procedure, contact Dr. Iglesias at (305) 243-2424 or aiglesias@med.miami.edu.
