Kidney surgery performed via belly button

DALLAS, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Dallas surgeons have successfully removed a patient’s kidney by performing a unique nephrectomy -- kidney surgery -- entirely through the belly button.

Dr. Jeffrey Cadeddu of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas said he performed the "single keyhole access" surgery -- the first of its kind involving a kidney.

The entire procedure was completed with only one incision and the patient will have a barely noticeable scar tucked in the umbilicus, or navel, Cadeddu said.

"We are proud of this novel surgical technique," Cadeddu said in a statement. "Laparoscopic surgery already gives patients smaller incisions, less pain and a faster recovery. This transumbilical technique is a further extension of laparoscopic surgery, which essentially removes scarring from the patient’s skin."

Cadeddu said he performed the surgery with a newly developed set of high-dexterity instruments that make it easy to manipulate and complete tasks regardless of whether the appliance is positioned over, under or around internal organs.