Aga Khan University Hospital performs first minimal invasive surgery

The Aga Khan University Hospital has performed the first vNOTES surgical technique that provides access to treatment of gynaecological conditions through the vaginal opening without making any external cuts on the abdomen.

Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery commonly known as vNOTES is where gynaecologists use specialized instruments placed through the vagina.

The instruments are then guided by a camera into the pelvic cavity, giving access to the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries without the need for abdominal skin incisions.

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Dr Bob Achila, the Lead Surgeon and Consultant Urogynaecologist at Aga Khan University Hospital explained that vNOTES is an advanced minimally invasive gynaecologic surgery that combines the benefits of laparoscopic and vaginal approaches to gynaecologic surgery.

“While both vNOTES and minimally invasive surgery aim to minimize scarring and speed up recovery, vNOTES achieves this by avoiding any external cuts, operating solely through the vagina, whereas minimally invasive surgery involves small abdominal incisions”, said Dr Achila.

Benefits of vNOTES

According to Dr Achila, vNOTES offers several benefits including no visible scars, a shorter hospital stay, reduced post-operative pain, quicker recovery allowing return to normal activities.

Also it has less reliance on pain medication and ultimately cost effective given that there’s less theatre operating time and shorter hospital stay.

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The technique is effective for the treatment of various conditions such as hysterectomy, surgeries on the fallopian tubes and ovaries (such as ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancies, and permanent sterilization), and pelvic organ prolapse.