The Keyhole Surgery Centre has developed from the general surgical practice of Dr James D Ritchie. Since the advent of laparoscopic surgery, Dr Ritchie has focused his practice on procedures conducted using these minimally invasive techniques. The advantages of laparoscopic or keyhole surgical procedures are many.

When compared to conventional procedures they offer less pain, shorter hospital stay and convalescence, less scarring and often better access to difficult areas of the abdominal cavity. With the introduction of more advanced equipment such as robotic assistants, better cameras and specialized devices such as harmonic scalpels, the range of surgery carried out by these techniques is bound to increase.

At present the Keyhole Surgery Centre offers a range of procedures. These include:

• Laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernias
• Laparoscopic removal of the gall bladder
• Laparoscopic anti-reflux procedures
• Laparoscopic removal of the appendix
• Laparoscopic division of adhesions
• Laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding

You may read more about some of these procedures on the Web site. Other procedures are suitable for laparoscopic surgery but are not so commonly performed by the Keyhole Surgery Centre.

These include laparoscopic vagotomy for duodenal ulcers, removal of parts of the stomach and intestine and surgery for achalasia (a condition where muscle thickening blocks the lower oesophagus). More procedures will become available as techniques develop further.

Another major area of interest for the Keyhole Surgery Centre is the treatment of morbid obesity. This is a growing problem in our society. Two procedures are offered at present to help with this disabling problem. The first is the laparoscopic banding mentioned above and the second is biliopancreatic diversion. This second procedure is not laparoscopic at this stage and is performed via an abdominal incision.

Dr Ritchie is the most experienced bariatric surgeon in Sydney with over 1200 cases of various anti-obesity procedures being performed by him since 1975. To assist him in the management of these cases he has working with him in the Centre, a consultant dietitian. Read more about these procedures on the Web site.

If after reading the information provided on the Web site you feel that one of these procedures may be of interest to you, please make an appointment to see Dr Ritchie at:

The email address of The Keyhole Surgery Centre is: keyholesurgerycentre@bigpond.com