University Hospital's minimally invasive surgery (MIS) team is nationally recognized for its advances in this non-invasive type of surgical procedure. These procedures are used to treat a variety of conditions. Commonly treated problems include obesity, heartburn, gallstones, hernias, and colon tumors.

Our physician team has a combined 102 years of extensive expertise that distinguishes University Hospital as the leading minimally invasive surgery program in Missouri.

What is MIS?

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS), also referred to as laparoscopic, videoscopic or keyhole surgery, is used to treat a variety of conditions. Surgeons perform these procedures through incisions as small as 1/16 of an inch. An endoscope or laparoscope - a lighted tube with a magnifying camera - is inserted through the incision, allowing surgeons to get a close-up view of the area. Because of the smaller incisions, MIS offers many benefits over conventional open surgery. These advantages include:

• A shorter hospital stay
• Faster return to regular activity
• Less pain
• Less scarring
• Lower complication rates

Our minimally invasive general surgeons are recognized as pioneers in the field of minimally invasive surgery.

Surgeons in the following areas also perform MIS procedures.

• Cardiac surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Obstetrics and gynecology
• Orthopaedics
• Surgical oncology
• Urology
• Vascular surgery

Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures Performed at University Hospital

The surgeons at University Hospital perform a large percentage of their general surgery procedures using minimally invasive surgery. Below are the procedures performed by our general MIS surgeons.

MIS general surgery procedures:

• Diagnostic laparoscopy
• Laparoscopic adrenalectomy
• Laparoscopic appendectomy
• Laparoscopic biliary enteric bypass
• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
• Laparoscopic colectomy
• Laparoscopic colostomies/ileostomies
• Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration
• Laparoscopic esophagectomy
• Laparoscopic esophageal myotomy for achalasia
• Laparoscopic gastrectomies
• Laparoscopic gastro-enterostomy
• Laparoscopic gastrostomy
• Laparoscopic liver procedures
• Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair
• Laparoscopic jejunostomy
• Laparoscopic jejunostomy tubes
• Laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy
• Laparoscopic management of gastric secretion disorders
• Laparoscopic nephrectomy
• Laparoscopic nissen fundoplication for GERD
• Laparoscopic pancreatic surgery
• Laparoscopic placement of peritoneal dialysis catheter
• Laparoscopic pyeloplasty
• Laparoscopic repair of perforated duodenal ulcers
• Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
• Laparoscopic small bowel surgery
• Thoracoscopic/laparoscopic diaphragmatic repair
• Laparoscopic ventral hernial repairs