New Delhi:The belly button is all set to don a more responsible role – the scarless route to treat common abdominal conditions like appendix, gall bladder stones and bariatric surgery, a weightloss procedure.

Surgeons in Delhi will for the first time in Asia Pacific use what is called ‘spider technology’ – a single flexible laparoscopy instrument that will do away with the need for five incisions or scars for any abdominal intervention. Instead, the machine will enter through the belly button and open up like an umbrella within the abdomen, providing the surgeon with several instruments with 360–degree range of motion along with small cameras.

Once the procedure is completed, the system closes up and is removed through the same incision.

Dr Pradeep Chowbey, who heads the Max Institute of Minimal Access, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, will conduct the surgery on Tuesday. He said the greatest benefit is that there will be no visible scar because the ‘spider’ enters the abdomen through a small puncture at the navel.

In conventional laparoscopic surgery, surgeons place multiple incisions in various parts of the abdomen to utilize several specialized instruments to achieve the necessary angles and access critical anatomical areas.

"This new technology is also hygienic as the instrument is disposable and for every new patient, a new instrument is used," Dr Chowbey said.

"The spider is a flexible operating platform which has multiple arms, each acting as a separate instrument. The instrument will go in and open up like an umbrella. The different limbs have different functions – one could be a holder, another a dissector and the other a clip applier," he added.

"Patients who receive a spider surgical procedure may experience less scarring with the potential for limited post–operative pain and a fast recovery to normal activities. We will put a water proof dressing on the belly button after the instrument is taken out. There will be no stitches," Dr Chowbey said.

According to the doctor, getting operated with a spider technology will cost around Rs 30,000 more than a normal laproscopic surgery.

SMOOTH OPERATOR
Enters the abdomen through a single incision in the navel instead of five incisions like in regular surgery
Opens up inside body to provide various instruments with 360–degree motion range and small cameras
Is more hygienic, makes surgeries scarless and may even improve recovery time
To cost around Rs 30,000 more than regular procedures