8 Advantages of Minimally Invasive Surgery for Veterinary Practices

Veterinarian and team performing minimally invasive surgery in an operating room

Minimally invasive surgery has had a huge impact on human healthcare and has become more and more popular in the veterinary world. Over the past decade, more veterinarians have specialized by becoming board-certified veterinary surgeons. As a result, many specialty veterinary hospitals and referral centers have adopted more minimally invasive surgical techniques and cutting-edge surgical technologies. Vets and the pets they serve have seen astonishing results in light of evolution toward less invasive operations.

How has minimally invasive surgery changed the veterinary world?

  1. Provides Treatment for Previously Inoperable Conditions

It’s easy to forget that just a few decades ago there were many inoperable conditions that left patients in pain or counting down their days. In fact, morbidity rates have dropped for pets over the past five decades [1]. With minimally invasive surgery, pets with liver, kidney, pancreatic, intestinal, stomach, and ovarian disease now have a new chance at life and health.

Veterinary oncology has seen the greatest growth thanks to minimally invasive surgery. Arthroscopy and thoracoscopy have also taken off since low-intrusion devices and approaches have become readily available to vets. 

  1. Minimizes Damage to Soft Tissue to the Surrounding Area

Of course, one of the biggest changes as a result of minimally invasive surgery is the impact surgical instruments have on patients. These include:

  • Less soft tissue damage resulting in reduced healing time. And animals spend less time in veterinary facilities post-op.
  • Protecting soft tissue also reduces the psychological trauma pets experience. This results in overall better mental wellbeing for pets and less PTSD when they return to the veterinary practice for follow-ups and regular care [2]. 
  • Better healing results. Less soft tissue damage leads to less scar tissue and more precise margins when tissue is removed. 
  1. Results in Fewer Post-Operative Complications

Along with less secondary tissue damage, advancement in surgical technology and techniques has lowered the risk of post-operation complications. Lower pain, less scar tissue, and quicker healing lead to immeasurable benefits for animals that undergo surgery. From depression to infection, pets can recover more quickly, more thoroughly, and without as many related problems that arise. 

  1. Reduces Time Under Anesthesia

You likely know that the longer a patient is sedated, the higher their risk for dangerous side effects. By having more efficient tools and better visibility, vets are able to perform surgery more quickly, resulting in fewer complications related to anesthesia. 

  1. Reduces Post-Operative Pain for Patients & Surgeons

We all want animals and people to experience less pain. When pets heal more quickly and experience less tissue trauma as a result of surgery, they also experience minimal pain. This is a wonderful aspect of innovative surgical approaches for pets–but this also has a profound effect on pet caregivers, as well.

Veterinarians are lifesavers–however, the job comes with many emotional burdens, including compassion fatigue. One of the leading factors in veterinary compassion fatigue is chronic worry over pets’ pain levels [3]. By reducing the pain pet patients experience during recovery, minimally invasive surgery can reduce the emotional burden on the vet, as well. 

  1. Limits Blood Loss

Precise surgical techniques lead to less blood loss by protecting more of the patient’s major blood vessels. Less blood loss and greater preservation of blood vessels nearby the surgical site results in quicker healing as well as a lower risk of infection. 

  1. Allows Surgeons to Spend Less Time Per Patient

Supporting the best care to pets is always our top priority at Animal Health Innovations. However, we are also committed to supporting veterinary providers and their profitability. This is why we love that technology can make performing surgeries easier as well as making each surgery less time-consuming. This leads to

  • Less wear and tear on a vet’s body. Using more ergonomic tools can reduce the strain on your back, eyes, neck, and overall body. 
  • Higher practice revenue. Being able to perform more surgeries more comfortably can increase your clinic’s profit margins on surgery days. 
  1. Gives Vets a Competitive Edge 

In addition to being able to perform more surgeries due to efficiency as well as charge more, advertising that your practice uses minimally invasive surgery differentiates your business from others. In fact, most vets that invest in veterinary tools for less invasive surgery become referral centers for surrounding vets. 

Additionally, as people become more willing to pay for the best care for their pets, vets are able to charge more for minimally invasive surgery. Clients also have more confidence in a veterinarian’s ability if they have specialized skills, such as minimally invasive surgical techniques. 

Minimally Invasive Surgery Has a Maximum Effect for Vets & Pets

We are thrilled to see the development in technology that has occurred over the past fifty years. in the veterinary world. And we know you are, too. With advancements in surgical approaches, vets can provide better care and pets can live longer, more pain-free lives. 

If your practice is looking to invest in technology to make performing surgery more comfortable on the doctor and more effective for the patient, check out the NICO Myriad. Have questions about the novel products we offer? Feel free to contact us anytime. 

Refernces: 

[1] https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/minimally-invasive-less/

[2] https://pets.webmd.com/dogs-emotional-problems

[3] https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/wellbeing/work-and-compassion-fatigue

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