Serving the Lowcountry and Coastal Empire of Georgia and South Carolina.

Minimally Invasive Surgery

A few tiny incisions are all that is needed for laparoscopic, also known as minimally invasive, surgery. This revolutionary approach involves using a fiberoptic camera and small instruments to perform operations that used to be done through large incisions. This major advance has allowed patients to have decreased postoperative pain, minimal scars and a much quicker return to their everyday lives. At SouthCoast Health in Savannah, GA, our surgeons are committed to learning and mastering the newest techniques and technology for performing advanced procedures. Dr. E. Stephen Yeager has extensive laparoscopic experience, having performed thousands of these surgeries since 1990. Dr. Jeffrey S. Mandel completed a subspecialty fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at the renowned Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York. Dr. Yeager and Dr. Mandel have performed over 5,000 laparoscopic procedures combined, including surgeries of the colon, gallbladder and spleen among others.

The Many Benefits of Laparoscopic Procedures

The basic advantage of laparoscopic surgery is the type of incisions it requires. Instead of long incisions that can take many stitches or staples, minimally invasive surgery is done through tiny incisions, usually 1/4- to 1/2-inch long. The surgeons insert small, high-tech instruments through these incisions to perform the surgery. As you can imagine, there’s a big difference in the amount of pain and length of recovery time. In addition, laparoscopic procedures are just as effective as the “open” approaches.

Minimally Invasive Solutions for Many Conditions

SouthCoast Health provides advanced laparoscopic surgery for a whole host of conditions, including:

  • Adrenal removal (adrenalectomy)
  • Appendix removal (appendectomy)
  • Colon and rectal disease
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Hernia repair
  • Spleen removal (splenectomy)

Are You a Candidate for Laparoscopic Surgery?

Laparoscopy is not practical, feasible or safe for every surgical condition. Our surgeons have the training, experience and judgment to know when and how to proceed with advanced laparoscopic procedures. They are committed to performing them whenever they will benefit their patients.

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