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Pinhole surgery was first used for gall bladder removal in 1988. Since it is a minimally invasive surgical technique, it is popular with patients. It is now used for coronary artery bypass, Achilles tendon injury, gastric bypass surgery and for treatment of varicose veins. It is also used for taking a biopsy and other diagnostic techniques.

To treat a patient, the surgeon makes a puncture in the skin the size of  which varies from a few mm to few centimeters. Using a catheter as thin as a hair, the pinhole surgeon can reach the affected part of  the body and deliver treatment to the affected organ directly. The instruments used for pinhole surgery are about 1/10th of an inch in diameter.

The advantage of  this method of  treatment is that there is no cutting and bleeding of  the body. Usually anesthesia is not required by the patient. This recovery time for this method of surgery is usually shorter and fewer complications. The success rate is also higher.

In India, pinhole surgery is available at MIOT hospitals, Chennai. They claim to have the trained surgeons, imaging equipment and miniaturized devices to carry out pinhole surgery.

Procedures

Closure of various types of heart defects like ASD, VSD, PDA and AP window

Balloon dilatation of critically narrowed heart valves

Balloon dilatation and stenting of aorta and pulmonary arteries

Non surgical treatment of coarctation

Neonatal ductal stenting in blue babies

Closure of paravalvar leaks after surgery