Minimally invasive surgery allows for a surgeon to examine the internal structures of the abdomen or chest through a very small incision while using a high-definition video camera. One to two additional small incisions are made to introduce custom-designed instruments to undertake various surgical procedures.

When minimally invasive surgery is performed in the abdomen, it is called laparoscopic surgery. When it is performed in the chest cavity, it is called thoracoscopic surgery.

Once a surgeon has undergone training in minimally invasive surgery, many procedures can be performed without having to make a large incision into the abdomen or chest cavity.

• Less post-operative discomfort
• Shorter hospitalization (some procedures are performed on an outpatient basis)
• Lower risk of serious incisional complications

During a laparoscopic spay, two or three tiny 3/16” incisions are made in the abdomen. Laparoscopic gastropexy can also be performed through the same small incisions, which is recommended for breeds that are predisposed to stomach bloat.

• Laparoscopy (abdominal) Surgery
  • Adrenalectomy
    • Adrenal Cortical tumor (add in this hyperlink)
    • Pheochromocytoma (add in this hyperlink)
  • Cholecystectomy (Gall bladder removals)
  • Gastropexies
  • Laparoscopic-assisted intestinal biopsies
  • Liver Biopsies
  • Spays (ovariectomy or ovariohysterectomy)
  • Laparoscopic Gastropexy
  • Laparoscopic Ovariectomy (spay)
  • Laparoscopic Ovariohysterectomy (spay)
  • Laparoscopic Liver Biopsy
  • Laparoscopic Biliary Aspiration
• Thoracoscopy (chest cavity) Surgery
  • Chylothorax: thoracic duct ligation and partial pericardiectomy
  • Lung Lobectomies
  • Thoracoscopic Subtotal Pericardiectomy
  • Thoracoscopic Thoracic Duct Ligation
  • Thoracoscopic Lung Lobectomy