Trans-vaginal Hybrid NOTES (Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery)
Some operations require 12mm ports for stapling devices, and larger incisions to remove organs such as bowel.
The upper half of the vagina has very little pain sensation at all. An incision in this area allows for a 12mm port to be inserted, and for a larger specimen such as bowel to be removed. The abdominal ports can therefore be kept as small as possible – even mini-laparoscopic! Dr Gan has published and presented internationally on his pioneering work with this technique. Patients are often just on paracetamol after surgery and can go home in as little as a couple of days after a bowel cancer operation with little to no pain and virtually invisible scarring. The cut to the vagina is far, far less than what is required for a vaginal hysterectomy. Vaginal incisions are very routinely used in gynaecology surgery.
Dr Gan has been an invited speaker on Minimally Invasive Surgery for international companies such as Karl Storz and Teleflex, as well as Australia’s only Masters of Minimally Invasive Surgery (MMIS) diploma program.
Publication
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5103299/
