Minimally Invasive Procedures
Minimally invasive procedures involve using very fine and small needles to achieve the desired result and minimise any pain or trauma to the body, thus resulting in minimal side effects and minimal complications of therapy. Examples of minimally invasive procedures include biopsies, drainages and spinal investigations.
Biopsy
A biopsy is a means of determining the exact nature of a lump / mass. It gives a definitive tissue diagnosis.
 All biopsies at GCMI are performed under image guidance. This ensures position accuracy and hence, decreases the need for further biopsies.
To perform a biopsy, a small needle is placed into the lump, after antiseptic and local anaesthetic have been administered. A number of passes with the biopsy needle may be necessary to obtain an adequate sample. The specimen is then sent to the pathology laboratory for analysis and diagnosis.
Patient Preparation
In preparation for this examination patients should fast for four hours prior to the examination (not necessary for a breast biopsy).
After the anaesthetic wears off from the biopsy (usually about one hour), a pain killer (eg. Panadol) may be necessary.
Drainages
Depending upon the location and the site of the fluid collection, these procedures are usually carried out within the hospital environment. Drainages are most likely performed after surgery or trauma.
Some of the areas that involve drainage include the abdomen or the chest. A somewhat similar set-up is followed to that of a biopsy, but this time a tube is often left in the body for a number of days to remove the fluid.
Spinal Investigation
Low-back and neck pain, as well as arm and leg pain or numbness are very common problems in our society.
Some sources of pain include the intervertebral disc, the facet joints of the neck and back, irritation of the nerves arising from the spinal cord, and the sacro-iliac joints.
To determine the site of origin of the pain, the following investigations can be performed:
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X-ray
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CT
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Spinal injections
Examination Locations
All the above minimally invasive procedures can be performed by using:
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Multislice CT at Burleigh Waters, Southport and The Tweed Hospital.
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Ultrasound at Burleigh Waters, Southport, The Tweed Hospital and Tweed Heads
Click here for a detailed list of our clinics and their contact details.
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