Minimally invasive surgery
Minimally invasive surgery has been studied in 10 papers since 2021: 10 observational studies in people; 4 in the past year. The newest paper, Mar 19, 2026: “Frailty and Days at Home After Ovarian Cancer Surgery- A Patient-Centered Outcome for Older Adults”.
10 papers study it13 findingsUpdated
“At 6 months follow-up, the minimally invasive technique contributed to significantly better functional recovery as measured by the Parker (p < 0.05) and Katz scores (p < 0.05).”
None of its findings points the other way.
- 8 independent labs in 6 countries
- Funders: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and 1 more
- 1 of 13 findings with company ties
- Humans10
What did studies of Minimally invasive surgery find?
7Studies of Minimally invasive surgery measured 7 outcomes; the most studied are postoperative complications (2 studies), functional recovery (2) and 90-day hospital readmission (1).
Postoperative complications
downin humans2
2 studies
Postoperative complications
downin humans2
Minimally invasive surgery decreases postoperative complications in humans.
“severe postoperative complications were significantly better in the MIS group.”
Humanselective surgery for gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary-pancreatic tumors
Surgical endoscopy
Minimally invasive surgery decreases postoperative complications in humans.
“minimally invasive techniques were associated with improved functional recovery and fewer complications than traditional methods”
Humanselderly hip fracture12 monthsn = 120
Bioinformation
Functional recovery
upin humans2
2 studies
Functional recovery
upin humans2
Minimally invasive surgery improves functional recovery in humans.
“minimally invasive techniques were associated with improved functional recovery and fewer complications than traditional methods”
Humanselderly hip fracture12 monthsn = 120
Bioinformation
Minimally invasive surgery improves functional recovery in humans (p < 0.05).
“At 6 months follow-up, the minimally invasive technique contributed to significantly better functional recovery as measured by the Parker (p < 0.05) and Katz scores (p < 0.05).”
Human trial6 months
Injury
90-day hospital readmission
downin humans1
1 study
90-day hospital readmission
downin humans1
Minimally invasive surgery decreases 90-day hospital readmission in humans (16.6% vs. 22.3%, P = 0.11).
“The 90-day readmission rate was also lower in the MIS groups (16.6% vs. 22.3%, P = 0.11).”
Humanselective surgery for gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary-pancreatic tumors
Surgical endoscopy
Severe activities of daily living decline
downin humans1
1 study
Severe activities of daily living decline
downin humans1
Minimally invasive surgery decreases severe activities of daily living decline in humans (5.7% vs. 9.5%, P = 0.11).
“Severe postoperative ADL decline was lower in the MIS than in the open groups (5.7% vs. 9.5%, P = 0.11).”
Humanselective surgery for gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary-pancreatic tumors
Surgical endoscopy
Activities of daily living decline
no changein humans1
1 study
Activities of daily living decline
no changein humans1
Minimally invasive surgery has no effect on activities of daily living decline in humans (17.3% vs. 19.4%, P = 0.59).
“postoperative ADL decline occurred in 17.3% and 19.4% of patients in the open and MIS groups, respectively (P = 0.59).”
Humanselective surgery for gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary-pancreatic tumors
Surgical endoscopy
Time-at-home
upin humans1HR 0.71
1 study
Time-at-home
upin humans1HR 0.71
Minimally invasive surgery improves time-at-home in humans (54.9% vs 41.2%, HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.68-0.75).
“The MIS group had higher probability ofhigh time-at-home than open surgery with 54.9% (95% CI 53.6%-56.1%) versus 41.2% (95% CI 40.1%-42.3%) at 5years (hazard ratio 0.71, 95% CI 0.68-0.75).”
Humanscolorectal cancer resection5 yearsn = 16,479
Annals of surgery
Homecare use
downin humans1HR 0.87
1 study
Homecare use
downin humans1HR 0.87
Minimally invasive surgery decreases homecare use in humans (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.83-0.92).
“The MIS group had lower homecare use than the open group with 22.3% versus 31.6% at 6 months and 14.8% versus 19.4% at 1 year [hazard ratio 0.87,95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83-0.92].”
Humanscolorectal cancer resection5 yearsn = 16,479
Annals of surgery
What is Minimally invasive surgery linked with?
3Studies link Minimally invasive surgery with 3 measures, most often loss of independence (2 studies), days at home (1) and postoperative complications (1).
Loss of independence
downin humans2
2 studies
Loss of independence
downin humans2
Minimally invasive surgery lowers the risk of loss of independence in humans (P = 0.040).
“Minimally invasive surgery reduces the risk of loss of independence after pancreatoduodenectomy in elderly patients”
Humansafter pancreatoduodenectomy
Surgical endoscopy
Minimally invasive surgery lowers the risk of loss of independence in humans (9.4% vs 30.8%, P = .050).
“The incidence of postoperative loss of independence was 9.4% in the frail patients who underwent minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and 30.8% in those who underwent open surgery”
Humansfrail patients undergoing hepatopancreaticobiliary surgery
Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
Days at home
upin humans1
1 study
Days at home
upin humans1
Minimally invasive surgery is associated with days at home in humans (+28 days; 95% CI, 24 to 33; P<.001).
“Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) was associated with higher DAH (+28 days; 95% CI, 24 to 33; P<.001).”
Humansovarian cancer surgeryfemalesn = 7,348
Frailty and Days at Home After Ovarian Cancer Surgery- A Patient-Centered Outcome for Older Adults
Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN
Postoperative complications
downin humans1
1 study
Postoperative complications
downin humans1
Minimally invasive surgery lowers the risk of postoperative complications in humans (Laparoscopic: 1%, Robotic: 2.6%, Open: 4.6%; p < 0.001).
“Minimally invasive hepatectomies had a lower rate of Clavien-Dindo grade IV complications for non-frail”
Humansin post-hepatectomy patientsn = 24,150
The impact of minimally invasive surgery and frailty on post-hepatectomy outcomes
HPB : the official journal of the International Hepato Pancreato Biliary Association