Former minister Nagaraj Shetty inaugurated the ‘Division of Minimal Access Surgery’ at KMC Hospital at Ambedkar Circle in Mangalore on Saturday. Accordinng to a press release, MAS is a method of carrying out surgery without making large incisions. Instead, surgical instruments are passed through ‘key-hole’ or ‘ports’ made in the abdomen.

One of the prominent advantages of keyhole surgery is the reduction in post operative pain as well as hospital stay. Another benefit of MAS is that it leaves little scarring. Patients can be discharged within a day of the surgery and resume their normal activities within 3-4 days after the operation. Early recovery would have a direct impact on the cost of treatment to a great extent.  MAS can be effectively used for many general surgery procedures including common ones like piles and hernia repair, gallbladder removal and appendicectomy.

Associate Dean Dr M V Prabhu presided. COO Dr Sunil Deshpande, HoD of Surgery Dr Thangam Vergese and others were present on the occasion, the release added.