Advanced laparoscopic surgery performed at the Nuevo de Gómez Palacio Hospital

Surgeon Emiliano de la Torre Pacheco successfully performed the first single-port or transumbilical laparoscopic cholecystectomy at the Nuevo de Gómez Palacio Hospital. This minimally invasive surgical technique was used to remove the gallbladder of a 30-year-old patient.

The doctor explained that these types of procedures are not exclusive to the abdominal area but can be performed on other parts of the body, such as the neck for thyroid surgery.

"We have an interdisciplinary team that knows the steps to follow, meaning we have qualified internists, anesthesiologists, surgeons, and nursing staff. Right now, one of the advantages here is that it's a teaching hospital, Well, we have first, second, and third-year residents from various specialties. , in this case, the surgeons who are integrated into this part of the training in minimally invasive surgeries, which they will be able to offer to their patients," he commented. In addition to cholecystectomy, this method has been used to perform general surgeries for hernias and appendixes, among others.

The surgeon explained that patients selected for laparoscopy must have a comprehensive evaluation by internal medicine and anesthesiology, and meet certain criteria, such as hemodynamic stability (cardiovascular system balance), no diaphragm injuries, or a life-threatening emergency condition.

Through an official statement, it was announced that the Durango Health Secretariat (SSD) through the New Hospital performs advanced laparoscopic surgeries with better results for patients, since recovery is faster, there is less hospitalization time, less pain, the rate of postoperative complications is reduced, and the incisions are smaller than those of a traditional procedure.

For her part, the clinic's director, Elizabeth Alicia Márquez Noyola, said that while laparoscopy is considered one of the greatest medical advances, its practice itself is not a novelty in the surgeries performed at the hospital. The hospital has performed hemicolectomy (removal of a portion of the large intestine or colon); ovarian cyst removal; hysterectomies (removal of the uterus); appendectomy (removal of the appendix); hernioplasty (repair of hernias in the abdominal wall); and cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder). "However, it is a novelty for the hospital to perform it through a single port, or what we call transumbilical surgery—through the navel, the scar of which will be hidden in the umbilical fold," she emphasized.

The anesthesiologist commented that they have a team of young, specialized surgeons who perform laparoscopic surgery and are certified by the Mexican Council of General Surgery, Urologic Surgery, and Oncosurgery, which provides an added value in medical care.

Finally, he noted that surgical procedures are performed free of charge at the Nuevo Hospital for patients, whereas in private clinics in the region, such surgery costs up to 80,000 pesos, not including hospitalization costs.