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MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY - GYNOCOLORY & UROGYNOCOLGOY
Da Vinci Surgery
Da Vinci surgery, also known as robotic surgery or computer-assisted surgery is an amazing technological advance to allow more cases to be done thru small incisions. The advantage to the patient includes, less pain, less blood loss, less risk of infection, shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery and return to normal activities. The advantage to the physician is 3D vision with a magnified view, and articulation of the instrument in all directions – this mimics the physician’s wrist movements and can operate in a comfortable position, makes stitching much easier and more precise, and . . . it is fun! All of these features allow complex procedures to be done through a few tiny openings. Dr. Hutson is one of the very few physicians in our area, routinely using the da Vinci Surgical System for difficult cases to help her patients recover quicker with less pain and the ability to get back to their usual activities faster. She trained to use the da Vinci Surgical System back in 2008 and does hundreds of these procedures a year. Dr. Hutson believes that this technology is one of the biggest revolutions in women's health. Her patients enjoy all of the advantages of da Vinci surgery, and are typically cleared to go home same day!
What Is Intra-Abdominal da Vinci Surgery?
This type of procedure is done for patients who need to have pelvic organs removed, fixed, or evaluated. In this kind of surgery, the incision is an inch or smaller. Some of the most common intra-abdominal minimally invasive surgeries include a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus), a myomectomy (fibroid removal), a laparoscopy (evaluation or removal of adhesions, endometriosis, cysts, or other issues), and a sacral colpopexy (supporting the pelvis).
What Is Minimally Invasive Surgery?
Minimally invasive surgery, which is also referred to as laparoscopic surgery or robotic surgery, is performed through very tiny incisions, a sharp contrast to traditional open surgery. The small incisions are an entry point for tiny cameras with attached microscopes, which are lit up with fiber-optic flashlights. The interior of the surgical area is displayed on nearby high-definition monitors, where the doctor can see every detail while performing the surgery.
How Many Stitches Are Needed in Minimally Invasive Surgery?
Minimally invasive surgery requires only one or two stitches, a sharp contrast to open surgeries that have long incisions requiring multiple stitches.
What Are the Advantages of the da Vinci Surgical System?
There are a number of advantages to minimally invasive surgery. This type of surgery has less blood loss, reduced surgical scarring, and a much faster recovery time than with open surgery. The majority of women are able to go back to their regular activities after about two weeks.
What Is Non-Intra-Abdominal da Vinci Surgery?
Non-intra-abdominal surgery is also done through tiny incisions, or through a natural orifice. This kind of procedure is normally done in-office, so it is an outpatient surgery. Common non-intra-abdominal minimally invasive surgeries include: endometrial ablation (destruction of the uterine lining), advanced hysteroscopy (evaluation of the uterine area and removal of problems), sterilization via fallopian tube blockage, tubal ligation, Adiana and Essure implants, D&C, urethral sling (treatment of urinary incontinence), and labiaplasty (restructure of the vaginal area).
What types of surgeries is the Da Vinci used for?
The most common uses for the da Vinci Surgical System in our practice are for:
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Hysterectomy – removal of the uterus and cervix especially if the uterus is large or other pathology is present, such as scar tissue, endometriosis or prolapse.
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Myomectomy – removal of fibroids from the uterus. This procedure involves a lot of precise suturing which the da Vinci allows for.
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Sacrocolpopexy – lifting the apex of the vagina up by attaching the vaginal walls to mesh that is then tacked to the sacrum. This is for patients with prolapse issues.
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Endometriosis – Laparoscopic removal of endometriosis implants and resultant scar tissue.
Hysterectomy
If your doctor recommends a hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the uterus, you may be a candidate for an innovative, less invasive surgical procedure called da Vinci Hysterectomy.
The da Vinci Hysterectomy uses a state-of-the art surgical system designed to perform the most precise and least invasive hysterectomy available today. For most women, da Vinci Hysterectomy offers numerous potential benefits over traditional surgical approaches, including:
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Significantly less pain
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Less blood loss and need for transfusion
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Less risk of infection
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Shorter hospital stay
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Quicker recovery and return to normal activities
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Small incisions for minimal scarring
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Better outcomes and patient satisfaction, in many cases
As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is patient- and procedure-specific.
Myomectomy
A common alternative to hysterectomy for fibroids is myomectomy, the surgical removal of fibroid tumors and a procedure considered standard of-care for removing fibroids and preserving the uterus. This procedure may be recommended for women who wish to become pregnant.
If your doctor recommends surgery to treat uterine fibroids, you may be a candidate for a uterine-preserving, minimally invasive procedure –da Vinci Myomectomy. Using the most advanced technology available, da Vinci Myomectomy enables surgeons to perform this delicate operation with unmatched precision, vision and control using only a few small incisions. Together, da Vinci technology allows your doctor to perform complex procedures through just a few tiny openings. As a result, you may be able to get back to life faster without the usual recovery following major surgery.
The da Vinci System has been used successfully worldwide in hundreds of thousands of procedures to date. For women who want a uterine-sparing procedure, da Vinci Myomectomy offers numerous potential benefits over open abdominal surgery, including:
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Significantly less pain
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Less blood loss and need for blood transfusions
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Shorter hospital stay
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Faster recovery and quicker return to normal activities
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Less scarring
As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is patient- and procedure-specific.
Sacrocolpopexy
If your doctor recommends sacrocolpopexy-surgical repair of vaginal or uterine prolapse, you may be a candidate for minimally invasive da Vinci Surgery. This procedure uses a state of-the-art robotic surgical system. It is 100% physician-controlled and designed to allow your surgeon to perform the most effective minimally invasive surgery possible through just a few tiny incisions. For most women, da Vinci Surgery offers numerous potential benefits over a traditional open approach to sacrocolpopexy:
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Significantly less pain
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Less blood loss and need for blood transfusions
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Less scarring
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Shorter hospital stay
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Shorter recovery
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Fewer complications
As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is specific to each patient and each procedure.
Endometriosis
IA condition in which the glands from inside the uterus (endometrium) implant on the smooth surfaces outside the uterus. This can cause internal bleeding and scar tissue formation, causing pain and an odd bleeding pattern.