Laproscopic or traditional?

If laparoscopic had been available to me, I would have gone for it. I have had subsequent lapro surgery, and was quite happy with it.

Jan

Ditto for me...I wish my pouch had been done through laporoscopy...had other procedures done that way and there is no comparison in the healing process especially for those of us who have healing problems or form adhesions easily...that said, not all surgeries can be done that way and not all surgeons are capable of doing them...even my specialist informed me that if things got too complicated that he would have to open me up...fortunately he didn't need to.
Sharon

Thanks for both of your opinions. The local surgeon whom I have met with here does not do the laparoscopic. I am looking into going for a consult at another hospital who does. Trying to get the feelers out as to what is the best or works best for most people.

Yes, laparoscopy is a surgical subspecialty that requires additional training and expertise. I would think that most laparoscopic surgeons are general surgeons, and that is why there are not more colorectal laparoscopic surgeons. It takes long enough for the general and colorectal residencies, let alone adding a laparoscopic specialty on top!

Jan

Lapro!! I had mine done that way and am very happy with the results. Just be sure to find someone very experienced. I have hardly any scarring compared to the photos I've seen that had open surgery, (check out the photos on my blog under the post "Healing incisions") and the healing and bounce-back was surprisingly quick. I was up and walking around comfortably in no time! (Although it took about three weeks I think to be able to cough with no abdominal pain, but I had a LOT done in one surgery! Total proctocolectomy, j-pouch construction & anastamosis, and temporary loop ileostomy.)

Laparoscopic techniques also vary. There is hand-assisted and completely laparoscopic. I dont think many surgeons do it 100% laparoscopic. My daughters surgeon did and I still wonder if she'd been better off with hand-assisted or open as there is better visualization and "hands on".

I had a robot assisted laparoscopic procedure. Had I not developed an ileus I would have been up and about in no time. My largest and most notable scar by far is the ostomy site - so I don't have much to offer at "show and tell" opportunities. My other incision points have all but disappeared (I had my colectomy in August of 2011).

There was a video posted on this site a short while back
of a new surgical technique being used at the Cleveland
Clinic.

They remove the colon through your belly button! No
visible scar from the removal surgery but you'll still
have one from the stoma site.

Kelsie is right - mine was done mostly laproscopically (the proctocolectomy and ileostomy), but they did make an incision just above my pubic bone in order to create the actual j-pouch externally and then put it back in and attach it.

laproscopic for sure. Faster recovery time. But you must make sure you have a colorectal surgeon doing it. Not a general surgeon

I had laprascopic procedures. There are 7 porthole scars a 3 inch scar to the left under my tummy button and a loop-ileo scar. Very happy with it, although the fact it was all being done laprascopically did mean that in my mind I sort of downgraded how major an op it is, so was quite shocked when I came round!! Good Luck.

Thanks again for the feed back. I am meeting with my surgeon here next week who does not do laparoscopic and then another one in a few weeks who does do it. This whole thing is a huge decision in more ways than one!

I'm a fan of laparoscopic whenever possible for any surgery. Recovery time is faster plus is reduces scar tissue building up. That was a huge deciding factor for me too when I was choosing my surgeon.