Letter: Keyhole opens up painless surgery
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Either the media reporting of advances in gallbladder removal ("Keyhole surgery `takes longer and costs more' " 13 April) has missed the point of the study, or the folk at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield are wasting valuable time.
My gallbladder was removed by "keyhole surgery" three years ago. Perhaps my surgeon, Mr William Brough, was particularly brilliant, but within a few hours of the operation I was enjoying a full meal and had not experienced one moment's discomfort. I was back at work two weeks later, and it is now extremely difficult to find the tiny marks left by the three incisions.
Those of my acquaintance who have undergone the traditional "rip-'em- open" style of surgery which involves cutting through abdominal muscle to reach the gallbladder can still vividly recall the post-operative pain and the length of time it took to recover abdominal strength. Not one of those people was back at work in a month.
The good doctors at Sheffield should bear in mind their first duty - to the patient, not the account manager.
Tony Wilkie-Millar
Stockport, Cheshire
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments