Reduced Costs And Superior Efficiency Propel Growth Of Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures

Main Category: Cosmetic Medicine / Plastic Surgery
Also Included In: IT / Internet / E-mail
Article Date: 24 Jul 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) procedures are rapidly being adopted by the medical fraternity for the unique benefits MIS offers. Reduced patient trauma (small incisions and less bleeding), and lowered costs for patients as well as healthcare providers are some of the key advantages offered by MIS.

Frost & Sullivan's (http://www.ti.frost.com) research service Minimally Invasive Surgery - Technology Assessment finds that patients worldwide are slowly accepting MIS, a relatively newer technology in comparison to traditional open surgeries. Minimal incisions during surgery minimize chances of infection and loss of blood, thus reducing chances of complications during and post surgery.

"The main purpose behind MIS is to reduce the size of surgical incision which, in turn, results in smaller scars that remain post surgery, improving wound cosmesis," adds Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Sirisha R. S. "Post operative scars on the neck, throat, hands, and face are not just a cosmetic concern, but also a cause of difficulty to most patients, who are forced to undergo surgery to eliminate those scars, incurring more costs and inconvienience."

The reduced pain and infection enables a shorter stay in the hospital and a quicker return to normalcy. This further lessens the costs incurred by patients.

In addition to being greatly beneficial to the patients, MIS permits superior performances and efficiency. For instance, in comparison to a traditional surgical procedure such as laparoscopy, the surgeon is offered a 3D image with superior clarity and control. The outcome of which is reduced surgical time and ambiguity, allowing a surgeon to serve a larger number of patients.

These advantages are brought about by integration with advancements in other sectors such as information technology and computer networking, which is further revolutionizing the face of medicine. For instance, the commercialization of lightweight robots expects to lead to the assimilation of laser surgery with robotic surgery in near future. Combined with ergonomics, robotic surgery reduces the strain experienced by a surgeon during surgery. This lowers stress, tremors, and fatigue, thus allowing the doctor to serve more patients with greater control over the surgery. Tele-surgery is another facet of MIS, now a reality due to the vast leaps of technical advancements.

"However, companies must allay consumer apprehensions regarding initial one-time investment costs, as is the case with most new technologies," cautions Sirisha. "Promoters must emphasize on the high returns on investment (ROI) for MIS due to the reduction in post surgical complications, reduction in hospital stay, and reduction in surgical time, which lower costs significantly'."

Another factor hindering MIS adoption is a psychological block that patients and surgeons develop toward new and unconventional procedures. The lack of tactile impact in laser and robotic procedures creates a feeling of trepidation among patients, while a few surgeons belonging to the old school of medicine with rigid notions are uneasy about change.

Nonetheless, MIS is gaining rapid momentum due to its inherent and inimitable advantages over traditional methods. Its increased applications and benefits, leading to superior ROI, will continue to boost its growth in the near future.

Minimally Invasive Surgery - Technology Assessment is part of the Technical Insights - Pharmaceutical and Clinical Diagnostics, which provides a global overview of markets across Asia Pacific, North America, and Europe. It also offers an in-depth view of the following sectors: laparoscopy and endoscopy, surgical robots and laser surgery. All research services included in this subscription provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews are available to the press.

Technical Insights is an international technology analysis business that produces a variety of technical news alerts, newsletters, and research services.

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company's industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective, and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit http://www.frost.com.

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