Texas A&M offers endoscopy, sometimes called "minimally invasive surgery" for patients when it is appropriate. 

Endoscopy can often be done instead of major surgery to take biopsies of stomach, intestines, liver and pancreas as well as do cytology and culture of the airways and nose.  It is often able to remove foreign bodies from the stomach, intestines, airways and nose, and can also be used to perform gastropexy (a procedure to prevent gastric dilatation/volvulus or bloat), place feeding tubes into the esophagus, stomach or intestines, remove retained testicles, dilate strictures in the esophagus and remove polyps in the stomach/intestines. 

Patients that have endoscopy can typically be released the same day as the procedure.  Endoscopy is not right for every patient, but when it is appropriate, it is quicker, easier, safer, and less expensive than major surgery.