• Posted in:

    SLS’s AIDE Initiative

    ACCOUNTABILITY, INCLUSION, DIVERSITY & EQUITY A commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity is critical to the practice of medicine and the provision of high quality patient care. The mission of SLS is to promote excellence in patient care by providing an open forum for surgeons and other health professionals interested in minimally invasive surgery and […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    5 SLS Experts Discuss the Current State of Robotic-assisted Surgery and Training the Next Generation of Surgeons

    During an open forum panel discussion as part of Virtual SLS MIS 2021, five SLS experts discussed the next levels of minimally invasive, robotic-assisted surgery from its impact on training future surgeons to enabling surgeons to transform healthcare. Editor’s note: Responses have been paraphrased for brevity. Raymond Lanzafame, MD, MBA, FACS, Executive Director, Chairman, Scientific […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Announcing the SLS 2020-2021 Board of Trustees

    The Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons (SLS) is proud to announce our 2020-2021 Board of Trustees   President: John E. Morrison, Jr., MD Louisiana State University Health Vice-President: Mona Orady, MD Dignity Health Medical Group – Saint Francis/St. Mary’s Secretary-Treasurer: Paul G. Toomey, MD Florida Surgical Specialists Immediate Past President: Jessica Ybanez-Morano, MD, MPH […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Building A Strong Pandemic Model: Fewer ER Visits, “Plan B” and More Advanced Surgeries

    By Mantu Gupta, MD Chairman of Urology, Mount Sinai West and Morningside Hospitals, New York City Director, Mount Sinai Kidney Stone Center; Director of Endourology, Mount Sinai Health System Professor of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai COVID-19 has taught us a lot. We’ve seen its effect on every aspect of healthcare. As […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Advanced Laser Technologies Help Improve Safety in the COVID-19 Era

    By Nicole Miller, MD, FACS Associate Professor, Department of Urology, and Fellowship Director for Endourology and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville COVID-19 has drawn many aspects of medicine into a different focus. Now, months after the pandemic made its initial impact on our hospital, we are able to reflect on all the […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Dr. Raymond J. Lanzafame Appointed Chairman of The Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons (SLS)

    RAYMOND J. LANZAFAME, MD, MBA, FACS NAMED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE SOCIETY OF LAPAROSCOPIC & ROBOTIC SURGEONS (SLS) Miami, FL: The Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons (SLS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Raymond J. Lanzafame, MD, MBA, FACS to the position of Chairman. Dr. Lanzafame has been a key part of SLS’s […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Camran Nezhat Q&A: Minimizing Harm and Improving Recovery

    Camran Nezhat, MD, FACOG, FACS Inventor and pioneer of modern-day minimally invasive and robotic surgery; Fellowship Director of Camran Nezhat Institute, Center for Special Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery in Palo Alto, California. The goals of minimally invasive surgery remain the same as laparoscopy – achieve the desired outcomes with less destruction, pain and recovery […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Technologies That Simplify OR Staffing

    By Jessica Carlson, MD Curry Health Network, Gold Beach, Oregon Here in rural southwest Oregon, I am the only general surgeon in my county. It’s a challenging position that keeps me on my toes. Because there can be unexpected demands on my time, I need to work as efficiently as possible. That means keeping an […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    How We Can Stop Mistreating Endometriosis

    By Kenny R. Sinervo, MD, FRCSC Medical Director, Center for Endometriosis Care, Atlanta Endometriosis is a progressive condition where endometrium-like tissue grows outside the uterus in the pelvis, abdomen and thorax. The condition causes chronic pain, inflammation, endometriomas, fibrosis, adhesions, bowel or bladder dysfunction, endocrine and immune problems and infertility. Endometriosis affects 0.7% to 8.6% […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources

    SLS is committed to providing our members with information to help you navigate these challenging times. We extend our gratitude to all the physicians and healthcare providers who are working tirelessly to save the lives of those infected with COVID-19. – DOWNLOAD PDF from the FDA: Enforcement Policy for Face Masks & Respirators During the […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    MISWeek 2020 Conference Cancellation Notice

    We write this notice to advise you that the MISWEEK 2020 Conference scheduled for August 26-29, 2020 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, Honolulu, Hawaii has been cancelled. SLS staff and leadership have reached this difficult decision after careful consideration of the evolving nature of this highly fluid situation with prolonged travel restrictions […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    MISWeek 2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Statement

    SLS staff and leadership are closely monitoring the developments with the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Our top priority remains the health and safety of all participants at MISWEEK 2020, including attendees, faculty, industry partners, staff, vendors, and others involved with our Annual Conference. We are continuing a careful assessment of the potential impacts of this global situation […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    The Delicate Task of Removing Uterine Fibroids to Improve Fertility

    By Antonio R. Gargiulo, MD Dr. Gargiulo is a reproductive endocrinologist and reproductive surgeon at the Center for Infertility and Reproductive Surgery and the Boston Center for Endometriosis at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He is the Medical Director of Robotic Surgery for Brigham Health, and an Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    SLS Name Change Announcement

    The Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons is now THE SOCIETY OF LAPAROSCOPIC & ROBOTIC SURGEONS The SLS Board of Directors recently approved our new name. While the term “Laparoendoscopic” was intended to represent all MIS disciplines and technologies when SLS was formed in December of 1990, it no longer is consistent with current terminology and search […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Taking the Frustration Out of a Foggy Lens

    Trialing an in situ lens cleaning option that reduces both time and stress in the OR By Matthew Brunson Martin, MD, FACS Surgeon, Central Carolina Surgery, PA, Greensboro, North Carolina Impaired visibility is a major frustration during laparoscopic surgery. Blood, smoke and steam impair our view, and we can’t safely continue with surgery until we […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Strengthening Teams in the OR

    Surgery can be smooth and relaxed, even as personnel rotate and change. By Misty Tuttle Lead Surgical Technologist Cone Health, Wesley Long Hospital, Greensboro Laparoscopic surgery is a team effort. In the OR, in addition to the surgeon, we generally have one or two surgical technologists, a circulating nurse performing documentation, and a CRNA or […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Credentialing for Laser Surgery

    With quality education and consistent standards, every hospital can ensure laser procedures safely produce the desired outcomes. By Raymond J. Lanzafame, MD, MBA, FACS Regardless of specialty, you have likely used or heard about the use of laser technology in surgery. Virtually every surgical procedure has been accomplished with laser techniques. However, adequate skills, training, […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    The Search for Consistent Abdominal Port-Site Closure

    Today’s options make challenging cases easier and reduce the risk of hernia. By Dieter Bruno, MD, FACS Urologist, Peninsula Urology Center, Redwood City, California A surgeon can perform a complex laparoscopic procedure exceptionally well, but if the patient develops a port-site hernia postoperatively, that will be the enduring impression of their surgery. Port-site hernias can […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    New Position? Don’t Be Afraid to Suggest Your Preferred Surgical Tools When a technology benefits patients and the hospital, make your case early.

    By Samit D. Soni, MD Urologist, Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center, Houston, Texas In my recent move to a new position at a different hospital, I knew I was leaving behind some surgical tools I had spent 4 years using and teaching to residents and fellows. It can be unsettling to start using different […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    With Safer Procedures, Treatment Moves to the Rural Setting

    By G. Richard D. Batstone, MA, MB, BChir, MD (Cantab), FRCS (Urol), FRACS, FRCSC Because of the risks and facility requirements for some common urological procedures, such as treatment of large kidney stones and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), small hospitals in rural areas will often refer those cases to larger facilities. For the last 6 […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Partnering to Meet Complex Educational Challenges: The Endometriosis Model

    By Sallie Sarrel, PT, ATC, DPT On March 3, 2019, over 350 patients, specialists, activists, and industry leaders collaborated in person at the first-ever Endometriosis Summit, a patient and practitioner town hall meeting that demanded understanding of the disease, addressed state-of-the-art therapies, and raised future directions in its treatment. Another 20,000-plus viewers watched and participated […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Combining Robotic Surgery and the CO2 Laser for Optimal Results

    By Thiers Soares Raymundo, MD In gynecologic endoscopy, two technologies – the CO2 laser and surgical robot – are changing how we approach an increasing number of procedures. I have been using these technologies for two years for several surgeries, including myomectomy for uterine fibroids, endometriosis and cystectomy. The benefits of using these technologies in […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Microsurgery 2.0: Robotic Myomectomy with CO2 Laser

    By Antonio R. Gargiulo, MD Dr. Gargiulo is a reproductive endocrinologist and reproductive surgeon at the Center for Infertility and Reproductive Surgery and the Boston Center for Endometriosis at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He is the Medical Director of Robotic Surgery for Brigham Health, and an Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Updated Technology and Technique Enhances the Patient Experience

    by Maurice K. Chung, RPh, MD In my decades of practice, I have embraced the transformation from open surgery to laparoscopy and finally to every-smaller, less invasive laparoscopic approaches such as mini lap. As a pelvic pain specialist who performs many endometriosis and urogynecological procedures, I know how these surgical technologies can improve both outcomes […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Endometriosis Treatment Choices, by Age

    By Harry Reich, MD, FACOG, FRCOG, FACS The ideal treatment for endometriosis is a single surgery that removes all abnormal endometrial cells, thus resolving the ensuing condition. Success means choosing the right surgery, so repeated procedures are not necessary. The challenge for surgeons is that when symptoms of endometriosis begin, it is difficult to see […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Reducing Readmissions for Endoscopic Kidney Stone Surgery

    We focused on the most common reasons for retreatment and found new ways to address them. By Michael Maddox, MD Ideally, we would like to treat a condition once and allow our patients to return to normal, healthy activities. In my field, patients sometimes require repeat treatment for kidney stones. A second treatment means a […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    THE FIRST CHINESE SLS INTERNATIONAL MIS MEETING

    The First International SLS MIS meeting is scheduled to be hosted in the cities of Fuzhou, Fujian and Chongqing, China. The meeting is being hosted by Fuzhou Fujian Province People’s Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing and The World Team of the Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons. The first part of the […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Complete Endometriosis Treatment in a Single Surgery

    By Jessica Opoku-Anane, MD, MS Forty to 50% of patients with endometriosis experience a recurrence of endometrial cell growth and pain within 5 years after surgical treatment, even with medical suppression. (Guo 2009) Recurrence is much higher in patients whose endometriosis is advanced at the time of surgery. Once the symptoms return, patients often need […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    A Guide to Mini-Laparoscopic CO2 Laser Surgery for Gynecology

    by Mona Orady, MD Obstetrician-Gynecologist Director of Robotic Surgery, Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, San Francisco     I learned to perform mini-laparoscopy surgery about five years ago, and I have been performing it regularly for the last two years. Now I can use this modality for almost every gynecologic laparoscopic surgery that I perform, including […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons – The Future of MIS

    ACCESS ALL THE SLS MEMBER BENEFITS. JOIN OR RENEW TODAY @ WWW.SLS.ORG Publications to Keep You at the Forefront of MIS Free Digital Subscription to JSLS, Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons Free Digital Subscription to CRSLS, Case Reports Journal Receive JSLS Anywhere, a quarterly update on JSLS articles exclusive to members Open Access […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Engaging a New Generation of Endometriosis Specialists to Cure Endo

    Educational opportunities for students are at the heart of the quest to solve this misunderstood public health crisis. BY CAMRAN NEZHAT, MD, AND BARBARA PAGE For decades, our group has been working to increase awareness around endometriosis as not just a reproductive tract disease, but a whole-body disease that can affect all organs. Endometriosis continues […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Can You Have Endo Excision Surgery Minus the Downtime? This Doc Says Yes

    By Joanie Cox-Henry Imagine having endometriosis excision surgery and needing no downtime. That’s the reality for Dr. Mona Orady’s patients. The San Francisco-based OB-GYN specializes in mini-laparoscopy. Instead of using instruments with a circumference of 5 to 12 millimeters, she uses 2 to 3-millimeter tools to excise endo. For many women who undergo traditional laparoscopic […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    We Need to Come Together to Learn Complex Surgery

    By Mona Orady, M.D. There is still much to learn about the benefits and potential of robotic surgery. Great things are done by a series of small things brought together. –Vincent Van Gogh We are still forming opinions about robotic surgery. Although the existence and progression of robotic surgery is undeniable, the question of a […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    The Value of Surgical Energy in Gynecology

    Please R.S.V.P. to: Sarah Sherwood, (650) 380-9102 or sarah@sherwoodcommunications.com MEDICAL SOCIETY TO DISCUSS MOLECULAR ENERGY’S ROLE IN FUTURE GYN TECHNOLOGY MISWEEK ’17 Panel to Include Dr. Andrew Brill from California Pacific Medical Center Using energy to operate is the future of Surgical Gynecology. The idea is becoming more popular and more clinically relevant. This session […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Lovers to Spouses: The Value of a 40+ Year Love Affair with A Man and Medicine

    Lovers to Spouses with Dr. Liselotte Mettler and Elwin Wallace Law BOOK SIGNING:  Co-Inventor of Minimally Invasive Surgery Dual Memoir of Well-Known Surgeon and Her Husband Please R.S.V.P. to: Sarah Sherwood, (650) 380-9102 or sarah@sherwoodcommunications.com WHO: The Authors: Dr. Liselotte Mettler, co-inventor of minimally invasive surgery and California Real Estate expert Elwin Wallace Law Hosted […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Toward No-Scar Surgery Again—This Time With Energy

    Panel to Discuss Energy Devices and Potential for Incision-Free Surgery By Monica J. Smith Energy-driven technology is a cornerstone of surgery. Although surgeons use the devices at their disposal skillfully, for the most part, many do not know exactly how they work. A better understanding of the technology, experts say, could help surgeons make the […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Energy is the future of medicine: Understanding how it works is critical to your career

        DOT MED Healthcare Business News By Dr. Raymond Lanzafame and Dr. Richard Satava It is surprising to see how the understanding of certain aspects of energy medicine are not stressed during traditional medical training, given their importance in daily operations and in the surgery of the future. In fact, our identity as surgeons […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Study Finds Grading System For Surgeons May Help Increase Safety For Complex Surgeries

    Medical Society Presents Florida Hospital Research at MIS Week 2017 Tampa, FL – July 10, 2017/Press Release/ – A Florida Hospital Tampa study is attempting to show surgeons how to grade what they see during surgery in order to increase patient safety and create a systematic standard for how surgeon’s outcomes should be studied.   The research […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Study Finds Learning The Surgical Robot May Require Two Different Types Of Training

    Medical Society Presents UCSF Research Showing Two Distinct Skills Need to Be Learned Simultaneously San Francisco – July 3, 2017/Press Release/ – A UCSF study intended to measure how best to integrate residents into complex robotic technology resulted in an additional finding and necessary distinction: teaching robotics requires distinguishing between learning surgical skills and learning a surgical tool, […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Four Steps to Improving the Image of Physicians

    By Sarah Sherwood, publicist In Dr. Kaci Durbin’s excellent article today for KevinMD.com entitled Doctors: You Have a PR Problem, she describes the response to the negative portrayal and assumptions of physicians as near silent amidst the firestorm of criticism. Indeed, the public perception of physicians has been on the decline, while they are being framed as […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Surgical Energy: The Future and The Opportunity

    By Richard M. Satava, M.D. Energy is something we take for granted as we use it for surgery, but surgical energy is about to make its mark. Those who ignore what’s happening will be left behind. Although we utilize mono, bi-polar and ultrasound energy quite a bit, we don’t take the time to notice that […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Top 10 challenges facing physicians in 2017

    By Jeff Bendix, Charlotte Huff, Rose Schneider Krivich, Chris Mazzolini, Mary Pratt, and Todd Shryock. 2016 was a challenging year on many fronts for healthcare providers. Physicians have just started to digest the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) and its changes to physician reimbursement. A long presidential election finally reached its conclusion, but the […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    The Resistance to Minimally Invasive Surgery

    The minimally invasive surgery evolution benefits patients’ recovery, but still faces resistance from patients and surgeons as Dr. Mona Orady explains. We’re well within a new era of healing patients in a way that helps them return to normal life quickly and without much pain or scarring, but there are too many medical professionals who […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    The Day I had a Surgery that Left no Scar

    By Vanusa Melo A few weeks ago I found myself in a hospital bed waiting to undergo a surgical procedure. I didn’t realize how much medicine has evolved, so when the doctors said I needed to remove my appendix and an ovarian cyst, I panicked. I was already thinking about the days of school I […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Continuously Improving Your Career

    An Essay by Paul Wetter, M.D., The SLS Virtual Business Hall At SLS we’re solving problems, creating opportunities and finding new ways to shape generations of first-rate surgeons. We wanted to create a growing, dynamic, virtual business hall that will present solutions to your most vexing career problems and advise you on the business tactics […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Continuously Improving Your Career A Welcome to the New Virtual Business Hall, January 16, 2017

    By Paul Wetter, Founder and Chairman, SLS Welcome to the new SLS Virtual Business Hall, an exhibit of business essentials for surgeons everywhere, fulfilling our mission of the latest in surgical education at scale. At SLS we’re solving problems, creating opportunities and finding new ways to shape generations of first-rate surgeons. This growing, dynamic business […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    How to Avoid Hitting the Wall

    By Rev. Matthew Woodward Transfiguration Episcopal Church A strong, healthy looking young man walked into the ER complaining of a bad asthma attack. A friend of mine, Peter, who had recently qualified as a nurse was part of the team that cared for him. They did everything they could, but his asthma attack had progressed […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Report: House GOP Bill Would Cap Medical Malpractice Damages

    House Republicans reportedly hope to place limits on certain damages in medical malpractice cases as part of their efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The New York Times reports that their proposal would cap damages for pain and suffering and other “non-economic” factors at $250,000. The measure would apply to procedures covered by Medicare, […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    6 Considerations For Conquering The U.S. Robotic Surgery Market

    By Xi Chen, Decision Resources Group The shift from open to minimally invasive surgery has represented a key macro trend in the U.S. since the beginning of the 1990s. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery, also known as robotic surgery, is the latest advancement in minimally invasive surgery. However, as a capital-intensive innovation, robotic surgery has often found […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    How to successfully open a private practice

    by Linda Girgis, MD, FAAFP Many consider private practice a way of the past. Truth bears this out when we see the large number of doctors selling their practices to hospitals and large healthcare systems. And the overall healthcare system suffers because of this. In the current environment, the thought of starting a practice provokes […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Website Essentials for Surgeons

    By Sarah Sherwood, publicist If you’re going to have a Web site, make sure it’s high quality A web site of your own can be your very best marketing tool, where patients can come away with a good first impression of you.  Even when you work for a larger organization, your own Web site can […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    The Cost of Dismissing Patient Pain

    By Dr. Bradley Carpentier April 11, 2016 Pain is something every physician is familiar with. It comes in many varieties. There is the pain of late night calls, the pain of angry patients, the pain of poor outcomes and the pain of dealing with billing and reimbursement for your hard work. It is normal to […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    How to Promote Growth through Innovation

    By Melissa Cleveland, Strategic Marketing Manager, W.O.M. World of Medicine USA, Inc. Innovation seems to be the “buzz word” in boardrooms across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. So what are the important elements of innovation and why is it critical for company growth? For W.O.M., with headquarters based in Berlin, Germany and subsidiaries in the […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Medical Technology: What Changing Venture Capital Investments Signal

        Josh Baltzell and James C. Robinson January 9, 2017 The market for medical devices historically has been dominated by big-ticket “physician preference items” such as artificial joints, spinal implants, and cardiac pacemakers. Venture capital and private equity investors have been eager to fund new firms in this expanding and lucrative domain. Changes in […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Successfully Relieving Your Stress

    Gabrielle Parkinson, Executive Coach Being mindful of what you are doing right now and/or what you are focused on at the moment is perhaps that first step in making minor shifts and changes that can have a significant impact on reducing your level of stress.  And it all starts with pulling yourself into the present […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Navigating the Insurance System

    By Joan Zallee, Retired Business Manager, RN When you open up your letter from the insurance company, the column “Amount Paid” can be downright stressful. How do you navigate the business of the wonderful insurance companies so that the number in this column is larger and paid more quickly? That is what this article is […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Medical Society Provides New Site to Solve Business Problems for Surgeons

    Miami, FL – The Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS) will now provide both its 6,000 members and non-members with specific tools to help them solve the most pervasive business problems that have been shown to complicate practicing medicine. Studies increasingly show that doctors are suffering greater burnout and less job satisfaction. A Mayo Clinic study […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Medical Society Digitizes Its Journal For Easy Use On Apple/Android Technology

    The Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS) will now provide its members who have Apple or Android technology with its journal research in minimally invasive surgery via a new tool called JSLS Anywhere. Smartphones have been shown to offer significant benefits for health care providers in terms of improved communication and ready access to guidelines and […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Surgeon simulation: Practice makes perfect

    Practice makes perfect, right? But what happens when the stakes could be life and death and there hasn’t been a lot of practice? There are some surgeries and procedures that are so rare and complex most pediatric surgeons’ skills get rusty. Now, med schools around the country are turning to HiDef technology to help surgeons […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Medical Society Digitizes its Journal For Easy Use on Apple Technology

    The Launch of “JSLS Anywhere” will Affect Its 5,000 Members Worldwide Miami, FL (November 14, 2016)–The Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS) will now provide its members who have Apple or Android technology with its journal research in minimally invasive surgery via a new app called JSLS Anywhere. Smartphones have been shown to offer significant benefits […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Surgeons Debate Core Causes of Chronic Pain After Hernia Repair

    By Christina Frangou Michael Kavic, MD, a hernia surgeon and editor-in-chief of the Journal of the Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons, is calling on practicing surgeons, surgical educators and medical device manufacturers to re-evaluate their approach to inguinal hernia repair, recommending less reliance on synthetic mesh repair as the go-to method for repairing inguinal hernias. In […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery performed mostly by and for white males

    BOSTON – Patients who receive robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS), an increasingly widespread facet of surgical medicine, tend to be higher income white males, according to an extensive new study presented at Minimally Invasive Surgery Week. “We wanted to look at how the technology is rolling out … and what some of those characteristics are that […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    ABCD laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the morbidly obese patient

    By Yan Mei Goh With the advent of the obesity endemic, surgeons would more frequently encounter obese patients and its challenges when performing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Some guidelines suggest that obesity alone is not an indication for conversion to open cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the morbidly obese patient pose different difficulties at each stage of […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    SLS Minimally Invasive Surgery Week 2016 Conference Report

    SLS’s Minimally Invasive Surgery Week was held August 31-September 3, 2016 at the WestinCopley Plaza in Boston. SLS is the largest Minimally Invasive or Laparoscopic Society in North America and perhaps worldwide with over 6000 active members This multispecialty conference of a number of MIS Societies, helps increase knowledge of laparoscopic, endoscopic, and minimally invasive […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Support In And Out Of The OR: Developing Mentorship Models For Surgeons

    In the current healthcare environment, demands on surgeons increase with every new regulatory directive and budget-tightening measure. Maybe more than ever before, surgeons are faced with a need to balance a multitude of considerations beyond learning and mastering procedures. Since such topics are often touched on lightly, if at all, during formal training, finding a […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    How to resolve chronic effect of work related traumas and stress with a coherent, simple and self-applied deconditioning technique

    By Daniel Kuhn, MD This article presents a simple, coherent approach and technique that can release traumatic fixations and associated negative states of mind. It can help an individual return to his/her pre-traumatic level of function and pre-traumatic personality. Mental traumas and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are universal phenomena, which are not unique to […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Erasing chronic post-traumatic stress and revitalize one’s wellbeing and career – The Kuhn Technique

    A lecture and workshop by Daniel Kuhn, MD Dr. Kuhn’s approach is a simple technique which has been effectively used by athletes, executives, opera singers and high performers in general. Its purpose is to eliminate the fixation of traumatic experiences and post traumatic stress. Its benefits are a revitalize career; improved performance and recovering one’s sense of well […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    The Politics Of Hysterectomy

    By Herbert A. Goldfarb, MD During the last thirty years hysterectomy has been performed in this country between 600 and 700 thousand times each year. At least two thousand women die from the procedure each year. Can you believe that Hysterectomy has become the cure all procedure for women’s health problems? Hysterectomy is a major […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Understanding The Pain Helps Heal the Patient

    By: Maurice K. Chung Most know by now that the smaller incision, the less pain. Because pain is sometimes the primary issue, we must learn more about pain, including how to examine patients and choose the right procedure, in order to treat it effectively. Sometimes surgeries are successful; however, the patient may have other underlying organ conditions […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Wellbeing, Satisfaction and Productivity

    By: Daniel Kuhn, M.D. This article addresses what it takes to protect, rehabilitate, and enhance the career of surgeons from the point of view of wellbeing, satisfaction and productivity. Surgeons are challenged by the need to maintain a steady level of peak performance through long hours of surgery. Very often surgeons who were exposed to negative and traumatic […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Heart Disease & Endo – Here’s How to Fight It

    By: Mary Lou Ballweg The news of higher risk of heart disease in women with endometriosis, especially younger women, (Circulation, March 29, 2016) may be shocking and cause some fear. But if you’ve followed our work all these years, you already know that endo is a systemic (whole-body) inflammatory disease. And inflammation, as is clear in […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Technique to Prevent Painful Surgery May Have Role in Pediatrics

    Researcher from Mt. Sinai Says First Case Showed A Child Able To Return To Normal Activity Sooner New York— A group of surgeons, experts in colorectal and minimally invasive surgery (MIS), are investigating a surgical technique called Transanal Endoscopic Surgery or TES to evaluate its potential role in the management of retrorectal tumors in the pediatric population. […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Medical Society set to Offer International Multi-Disciplinary Course in Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery Techniques for Residents and the US Military

    Ten City-Tour Throughout the World Includes China, Brazil and US Military Bases Miami, FL—Beginning next month, SLS, the largest multi-disciplinary surgical society in North America, will introduce the latest in minimally invasive surgical techniques to younger surgeons around the world who need additional support and education in the newest research in surgical technology and techniques. The program […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Medical Society to Offer Course in Latest Scientific Techniques to Developing Countries

    SLS Teaching the Latest in Minimally Invasive Surgery to Communities with A Need for Advanced, Efficient Medicine Miami, FL—In response to a need for better quality medical care in developing countries, beginning next month SLS, the largest multi-disciplinary surgical society in North America, will introduce the latest in minimally invasive surgical techniques to communities around the world, […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Intraperitoneal bupivacaine disappoints in postop pain relief

    By Alice Goodman NEW YORK – While some evidence in the surgical literature suggests that intraperitoneal bupivacaine reduces postoperative pain scores and narcotic use, a new randomized controlled trial shows no significant improvement in patients undergoing robot-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy. “Despite evidence of benefit in laparoscopic surgery, there does not appear to be a benefit […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Virtual learning platform effective in teaching suturing

    By Alice Goodman NEW YORK – Virtual learning of laparoscopic surgical skills is now possible and appears to be as successful as direct mentoring through an in-person teaching course, according to a pilot study of 16 medical students and residents naive to laparoscopy. Suturing skills were equivalent in the group mentored directly, compared with those […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Uterine size not linked to increased surgical complications

    By Alice Goodman NEW YORK – Uterine size does not appear to increase the risk of surgical complications in patients who undergo type VII total laparoscopic hysterectomy, but both uterine size and the number of prior pelvic surgeries increased surgical time in a linear manner, according to a retrospective case-control analysis. “There is insufficient evidence […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Rigorous certification needed for minimally invasive surgery

    By Alice Goodman NEW YORK – Certification programs for minimally invasive surgery should be more rigorous and continuous, relying on simulation and other hands-on tests of skills, according to Dr. Larry R. Glazerman. Having rigorous certification could improve the uptake of minimally invasive techniques among patients and encourage insurers to pay for these procedures, he […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Debunking five myths about minilaparoscopy

    By Alice Goodman NEW YORK – The next big advance in gynecologic minimally invasive surgery could be the wider adoption of minilaparoscopy using newer, frictionless instruments. Minilaparoscopy is commonly used in cholecystectomy, but is making inroads in gynecology. Minilaparoscopy performed with the newer, smaller instruments is especially well suited for fertility procedures and endometriosis surgery, […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Developing alternatives to unprotected power morcellation

    By Alice Goodman NEW YORK – Power morcellation has been highly controversial since the Food and Drug Administration warned against its use in the majority of women undergoing myomectomy or hysterectomy for fibroid treatment last year. So where does that leave ob.gyns. who perform minimally invasive surgery? At the annual Minimally Invasive Surgery Week, experts from […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    My Struggle with Endometriosis

    Patient Spotlight By Lindsay This is the story about my struggle with endometriosis and the people who saved my life. I was only 12 years old and surely not sexually active. I was an athletic, and a high-energy teenager. I ran track, played varsity volleyball and rollerbladed to and from school everyday. My OBGYN attributed […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    White board in the OR adds a layer of safety

    By Alice Goodman At Minimally Invasive Surgery Week NEW YORK – Displaying a low-tech, low-cost white board in the operating room during the “time out” before surgery can significantly improve memory retention among members of the surgical team, a new study suggests. “We found that providing a white board that you can buy at any […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Making Mini-Lap Mainstream

    Mini-laparoscopic surgery is gaining favor among thought leaders in surgery. Find out why some experts believe “mini-lap” should be used more frequently. By Marie Thibault Although mini-laparoscopy, a surgical technique that allows for even smaller incision sites than traditional laparoscopy, has been performed by some surgeons for years, the technique may finally be coming into […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Greater Surgical Precision Scores a Triple Win

    Patient Spotlight By Rachel Kessler At age 19, Sacramento-based Jessica was diagnosed with endometriosis, a condition which caused her intense pain – with devastating news from her doctor that she may never be able to get pregnant. Endometriosis is a condition where uterine tissue is found outside the uterus, and causes lesions in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Welcome to the Inaugural SLS History Museum: 25 Years of Minimally Invasive Surgery

    Dear MIS History Museum Visitor, We look forward to introducing you to a new SLS exhibition for MIS WEEK called The History of MIS:  25 Years of Minimally Invasive Surgery.  This is our part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of SLS events. MIS history is something to be preserved and celebrated, so here you will find original photos, […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Study: Music Played During Surgery Hurts Team Communication

    Music is currently played in approximately 50 percent to 70 percent of surgical operations performed worldwide. In a new study of 20 operations conducted in the UK, repeated requests–for example, for a surgical instrument–were 5 times more likely to occur in surgeries with music than in those without. The findings suggest that music during surgery can lead […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Our History Is Worth Sharing

    By Paul Alan Wetter, MD A surgeon’s desire to examine internal organs has existed since ancient times. By going back in history we can learn, yes, but we can also begin to appreciate each other.  On September 2-5, 2015, during MIS Week’s 25th Anniversary, we will feature 25+ years of surgical history.  This important exhibition […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    How Technology is Changing Medical Education and Training

    Dr. Paul A. Wetter, Chairman, Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS), discusses how technology is changing medical education and training and highlights surgical breakthroughs and the importance of simulation. We live in one of the most challenging periods in the history of medical practice, with physician stress at an all-time high, yet technological breakthroughs and medical […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Progress in Mini-Laparoscopic Surgery

    By Gustavo Carvalho, MD, PhD Therapeutic laparoscopic surgery has been around for more than 25 years and surgeons, patients and administrations have begun to ask the question, what’s next?  Laparoscopic surgery has gone through a number of modest modifications, with the goal to further minimize surgical trauma and improve results. Late in the 1980s, “Mini-Laparoscopic Surgery,” […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Highlights of MIS Week 2015

    Minimally Invasive Surgery Week 2015 marks the 25th anniversary of SLS meetings.  Take a look at what’s new this year as we celebrate SLS’ largest annual meeting: • A museum exhibition on 25+ years of MIS history, with original prototypes, and up close technology from the 1980s and 90s • A lively debate on the cost of healthcare, […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Is It Time to Take a Fresh Look at Your Post-Op Pain Regimen?

    By Jay Redan, MD, President of SLS In the last decade, minimally invasive surgery has made major strides, with “incision-less” and micro- surgery looming on the near horizon. While the adoption of these advanced techniques has dramatically improved patient healing rates and recovery times, the standard opioid-centric approach to post-surgical pain management continues to diminish […]

    Read more