Single-port laparoscopic appendectomy performed at Valley Presbyterian Hospital

Mar 29 2012

Surgeons at Valley Presbyterian Hospital (VPH) recently performed the hospital's first-ever single-port laparoscopic appendectomy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure for removing an infected appendix, which reduces scarring and healing time because it requires only one incision, Gustavo Valdespino, VPH president and CEO, announced today.

“Valley Presbyterian Hospital has been very supportive of this technique and other surgical advances that improve the care and healing of its patients.”

"Appendectomies are one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the United States, and we are pleased to offer our patients the latest surgical techniques to ensure a quick recovery and minimal scarring," said Mr. Valdespino. "At Valley Presbyterian Hospital, our medical and surgical teams are constantly seeking the most advanced procedures and techniques to improve the lives and health of our patients."

Dr. Samuel Kashani, an expert in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical techniques, performed the first single-port laparoscopic appendectomy at VPH. In this type of surgery, the surgeon operates almost exclusively through a single entry point, typically the patient's navel. Unlike a traditional multi-port laparoscopic appendectomy, which usually requires three small incisions, single port laparoscopy requires just one small incision.

"A single-port appendectomy requires more skill, but it enables the patient to recover more quickly with less pain and scarring because there is only one incision," Dr. Kashani said. "Valley Presbyterian Hospital has been very supportive of this technique and other surgical advances that improve the care and healing of its patients."

Dr. Kashani also recently performed a single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal) at Valley Presbyterian Hospital for a patient who had gall stones.

Dr. Michael Zadeh, an expert in laparoscopic surgery who also performs surgeries at VPH, also recently completed a single-port appendectomy at the hospital. He said single-port laparoscopic surgical techniques can be used for other forms of abdominal surgery, including hernia repairs.

"Very few physicians and very few hospitals in the Los Angeles area can offer single-port laparoscopic surgeries," he said. "Valley Presbyterian Hospital is unique in having two physicians who can perform this minimally invasive procedure."