New medical procedure for kidney donor surgery

Jul 28 2008

Advanced Surgical Concepts is pleased to announce that surgeons have used its TriPort device to complete a kidney transplant through only a small incision in the donor's bellybutton.

The donor was able to leave the hospital less than 48 hours after the surgery with his surgical scar hidden by the natural contour of the bellybutton, rather than the 12" abdominal scar that is common following kidney removal surgery. The NBC Today Show and the Associated Press both reported on the procedure.

The TriPort has the potential to create a new generation of "bellybutton" procedures that reduce or eliminate patient scarring. Surgeons were previously forced to choose between making either one large incision, to insert multiple instruments through this large opening, and making multiple small incisions, to insert one instrument through each small opening (known as laparoscopic surgery).

The TriPort's novel design eliminates the need for this choice. Surgeons make a small incision, insert the TriPort, and then pass all instruments through the device without additional surgical ports. Furthermore, by placing the TriPort in the navel, surgeons are able to hide the scar within the natural shape of the bellybutton.

"Our company is proud to be a part of this important innovation in surgery," said Frank Bonadio, CEO of Advanced Surgical Concepts. "Our hope," he continued, "is that surgeons will use the TriPort to develop a new generation of procedures that reduce surgical trauma and scars. We also hope that the reduction in trauma and scars will result in an increase in the number of patients willing to provide transplant kidneys and other organs."

In addition to kidney transplants, surgeons have used the TriPort to complete many ground-breaking, single incision laparoscopic procedures, including cholecystectomies, hysterectomies, prostatectomies, bariatric surgeries, appendectomies, colectomies, pyeloplasties and an array of other general, gynecological, and urological procedures. Surgeons have also proven the effectiveness of the device in robotic surgery.