Lane Regional Medical Center announced today the successful completion of its first surgery using the next generation SILS™ procedure.  The emergency appendectomy, or appendix removal, was the first of its kind to be completed at Lane and in the region. 

According to Dr. Jonathan Taylor, the general surgeon who performed the procedure, said it took less than an hour to complete and the patient, Kristina Brashier, went home within a few hours.  One of the major advantages of the SILS™ procedure is that it utilizes only one access point, through the patient’s belly button, ultimately resulting in no visible scar.  By comparison, traditional laparoscopic surgeries involve four ˝-inch or smaller incisions that may leave scars. 

“With the successful completion of this procedure, Lane Regional Medical Center is now equipped to offer patients the most advanced form of laparoscopic surgery for gallbladder, appendix, bariatric, urologic, gynecologic and more,” said Dr. Taylor.  “We are thrilled to be at the forefront of a new kind of surgery that continues to transform the minimally invasive arena, resulting in even better experiences for patients.” 

Currently, more than 80 percent of all appendectomies performed in the Unites States are done laparoscopically with multiple access points. Using the next generation SILS™ procedure surgeons can make a single 20mm incision through the belly button minimizing the pain that may be associated with the additional sites of entry.

“Here at Lane, patient care is our highest priority.  Procedures including the SILS™ technique are instrumental in helping us fulfill our goal of offering patients the latest advancements in medicine,” said CEO Randy Olson.