Using Robotic Surgery to Treat Cancer:
Penn Expands Robotic Gynecologic Surgery Program
New advances in robotic-assisted surgery are shortening the recovery time, reducing pain and letting women get back to their lives in record time. Penn’s robotic gynecologic surgery program continues to grow and is now available at all three UPHS hospitals. “The University of Pennsylvania Health System has a true, multispecialty robotic surgery program,” according to Deborah Driscoll, MD, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Penn. “Penn surgeons are performing a broad range of procedures and more of them than any other hospital or health system in the Greater Philadelphia area.”
Robotic gynecologic surgery can be used to treat cervical and uterine cancer, as well as uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, and endometriosis. According to Thomas Randall, MD, chief of gynecologic oncology at Pennsylvania Hospital, the system is ideal for many cancer surgeries. He began using the robotic surgical system for gynecologic surgery in 2007 and now uses the robotic system for most women needing surgery for endometrial or cervical cancer.
The introduction of laparoscopic gynecologic procedures several years ago made surgery less invasive. But while laparoscopic procedures result in less scarring and shorter recovery, Dr. Randall says there are added benefits to both the patient and the surgeon by using the robotic surgical system.
“The surgeon has better vision with the robot’s three-dimensional view of the surgical area,” said
Dr. Randall, “and with the robot, we have finer, more complex control. The result is a gentler, more natural movement during surgery which results in much less pain and post-surgical trauma for the patient.”
Benefits of Robotic Surgery may include: |
- Smaller incisions/less scarring
- Significantly less pain
- Less blood loss
- Shorter recovery time
- Faster return to normal daily activities
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Dr. Randall says the robotic-assisted surgical system helps him as a surgeon concentrate more on
the surgery without distraction. “The greater control achieved with this system will help us to set a new standard of lower morbidity and easier recovery for women undergoing gynecologic cancer surgery.”
One of the Largest Robotics Programs in the Nation
More experience means better outcomes. Home to five da Vinci® Robotic Surgical Systems, Penn's Robotics Program is one of the largest in the nation. Our surgeons perform more robotic gynecologic surgeries than any other program in the Philadelphia region.
For more information or to refer a patient to a Penn robotic gynecologic surgeon, call 800-789-PENN(7366)
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