Surgeons have been able to simplify and improve minimally invasive surgery for cancer patients by reducing the number of abdominal incisions - by limiting it to the belly button.

"For advanced as well as localized kidney cancer, our surgical team has been able to reduce and consolidate the number of incisions to one port hidden in the belly button," said Ithaar H. Derweesh, MD, associate professor of surgery, Division of Urology at UC San Diego Health System and Moores UCSD Cancer Center.

"With one small opening to deploy instruments and remove diseased tissue, patients benefit from fewer complications, minimal opiate-requirements, preserved quality of life, and excellent short term outcomes," he added.

The surgeon-scientists of UC San Diego Health System have pioneered both scarless and single-incision surgery.

Less incisions result in a more rapid recovery and reduced pain.

"What we are seeing is that techniques such as LESS are more technically rigorous for the surgeon but infinitely better for patients," said Derweesh.

The study was recently published by BioMed Central Urology and Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopy. (ANI)