NHS announce opening of a new keyhole surgery theatre at Broomfield Hospital

SIR ALFRED Cuschieri, one of the world's pioneers of minimally invasive laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, has officially opened the new laparoscopic theatre at Broomfield Hospital.

Key-hole surgery involves the surgeon inserting plastic tubes into the abdomen through a small incision in the skin.

Surgical instruments and a camera are then passed thought the tubes to allow access to the abdomen and for images of the organs inside to be transmitted onto a television monitor for the surgeon to see.

The video camera becomes the surgeon's eyes in surgery, since the surgeon uses the image from the video camera positioned inside the patient's body to perform the procedure.

Sir Alfred said: "Laparoscopic or key hole surgery accounts for 65 per cent of operations that take place throughout Europe, so I am delighted to see hospitals make progress in this field. The new laparoscopic theatre at Broomfield is excellent as it has the equipment permanently installed and ready for the surgeons to use."

Complete control

The new theatre at Broomfield, south of Great Dunmow, has everything integrated so that the surgeon has complete control over the machinery to perform laparoscopic surgery.

Preset configurations can be used for individual surgeons or operations reducing set up times, thereby releasing time available to do extra cases.

High definition visual equipment means better laparoscopic pictures, and therefore safer operations.

Two consultant upper gastro intestinal surgeons, Sri Kadirkamanathan and Mike Harvey, were instrumental in developing the new laparoscopic theatre at Broomfield Hospital.

Mr Harvey said:" We are delighted that the new theatre is up and running, it is great news for the hospital and our patients.

"As laparoscopic surgery is minimally invasive it means there is less pain following the procedure; less risk of complications; quicker recovery times and hence a shorter stay in hospital.