If general anesthesia is not used, some discomfort or pain may be felt while the area is being ablated. Click here to see what a percutaneous approach looks like. Another option is a laparoscopic approach. With this approach, the surgeon makes a few small incisions in the abdomen, through which the necessary instruments are passed in order to treat the target tissue. This is also a minimally invasive approach, although general anesthesia is necessary.
Patients typically go home the next day.
One advantage of this approach is that intraoperative ultrasound can be used, which may result in more accurate location and visualization of the target tissue. Click here to see what a laparoscopic approach looks like. A third option is the open approach. This is what most people probably think of when they think of an operation. An incision is made in the area to be treated, and the surgeon can directly visualize the procedure.