Less Invasive Surgery: Quicker Recovery
Until recently, gynecologic surgeries, such as hysterectomy or fibroid removal, have been performed by open abdominal surgery. Fortunately, women have a surgical option that leads to a quicker recovery. Now, women can take advantage of minimally invasive surgical techniques for gynecologic surgery, laparoscopic or robotic-assisted gynecologic surgery. These new advances in robotic-assisted and laparoscopic surgery are shortening recovery times, reducing pain and letting women get back to their lives in record time.
“New advances in robotic-assisted surgery are shortening recovery times, reducing pain and letting women get back to their lives in record time.” |
|
|
The following approaches can be used to treat a variety of gynecologic conditions including cancer,
infertility, bladder and pelvic floor disorders.
Robotic Surgery to Treat Cancer
Specialty: Gynecologic Oncology
Conditions treated: Cervical, ovarian, endometrial and uterine cancer
Procedures performed: Hysterectomy, radical hysterectomy, lymph node dissection, oophorectomy and ovarian cystectomy
According to Thomas Randall, MD, chief of Gynecologic Oncology at Pennsylvania Hospital, the robotic system is ideal for many cancer surgeries. He began using the robotic surgical system for gynecologic surgery in 2007 and now uses it routinely for treating many women who require surgery for endometrial or cervical cancer.
While laparoscopic procedures result in less scarring and shorter recovery, Dr. Randall says there are added benefits for 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.”
Robotic Surgery to Restore Fertility
Specialty: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
Conditions treated: Infertility, reversal of tubal ligation, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometriosis
Procedures performed: Tubal anastomosis, myomectomy, ovarian cystectomy
Samantha Pfeifer, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at Penn Fertility Care, performed Penn’s first robotic tubal anastomosis (reconnecting the fallopian tubes) in March 2008. Dr. Pfeifer states, “We strive to provide patients with the best options for a successful procedure and a swift recovery. Tubal anastomosis using the da Vinci robot eliminates the need for laparotomy and hence, shortens the recovery time. Patients can return to their normal routine within one to three weeks following robotic surgery.”
Tubal ligation reversal has been performed less frequently in the past few years due to the development and success of in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, some women may prefer to conceive naturally and not go through IVF. Robotic tubal anastomosis offers the patient another option to regain her fertility — one that is minimally invasive and with a quicker recovery time than a standard microsurgical anastamosis.
Robotic Surgery for Common Gynecologic Conditions
Specialty: General Gynecology
Conditions treated: Abnormal uterine bleeding, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, adenomyosis, and endometriosis
Procedure performed: Hysterectomy, myomectomy, ovarian cystectomy
For most uterine conditions, if non-surgical treatments fail to relieve symptoms, many women choose a more certain result with elective hysterectomy. Each year in the U.S. alone, doctors perform about 600,000 hysterectomies, making it the second most common surgical procedure.
Mathew Beshara, MD, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Penn speaks about how the function of robotic surgery makes operating in the pelvic region more accessible, “Robotic-assisted surgery is similar to other forms of minimally invasive surgery in that instruments and cameras are inserted through small incisions.”
“For some cases, we are better able to visualize the internal organs, thanks to the 3-D imaging of the robotic system. It can take less time to perform the surgery, and the results are better for many patients. It is important to note that the surgeon controls all instruments in robotic surgery. The surgery is not performed by a pre-programmed robot.”
Robotic Surgery for Bladder and Pelvic Floor Disorders
Specialty: Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstruction
Conditions treated: Uterine and vaginal prolapse, pelvic pain
Procedure performed: Sacrocolpopexy, hysterectomy
Bladder and pelvic floor disorders, also known as urogynecologic disorders, include any pain or dysfunction in the area of the uterus, cervix, vagina, bladder or rectum. Because of the embarrassment associated with urinary incontinence and other bladder or pelvic floor disorders, many women suffer in silence. Daily tasks may become more difficult, since coughing, laughing or sneezing may trigger an accident.
Over 120,000 cases of uterine and vaginal vault prolapse are surgically treated each year in the U.S. Lily Arya, MD, MS, a urogynecologist at Penn states, “Prolapse (or falling) of any pelvic floor organ occurs when the connective tissues or muscles within the body cavity are weak and unable to hold the pelvis in its natural orientation. The weakening of connective tissues accelerates with age, after child birth, with weight gain and strenuous physical labor.”
“Sacrocolpopexy is a procedure to surgically correct vaginal vault prolapse where mesh is used to hold the vagina in the correct anatomical position. This procedure can also be performed following a hysterectomy as treatment for uterine prolapse to provide long-term support of the vagina.”
Penn’s robotic gynecologic surgery program is available at all three UPHS hospitals. Penn surgeons are performing a broad range of robotic procedures and more of them than any other hospital or health system in the region. For more information or to make an appointment with a Penn robotic gynecologic surgeon, call 800-789-PENN (7366).
|
