Robot-Assisted Hysterectomy (da Vinci)

A wide variety of conditions can affect a woman’s reproductive system, which consists of the uterus, the vagina, the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Most of these conditions affect the uterus, which is the hollow, muscular organ that holds a baby as it grows inside a pregnant woman.
Common types of gynecological conditions like fibroids (non-cancerous growths in the uterine wall), endometriosis (non-cancerous grows of the uterine lining) or prolapse (falling or slipping of the uterus) can cause chronic pain and abnormal bleeding, as well as other disabling symptoms.
Women who experience these symptoms are often treated with a hysterectomy-the surgical removal of the uterus. In fact, this procedure is the second most common surgical procedure for women in the United States, and an estimated one-third of all U.S. women will have a hysterectomy by age 60.
Your doctor might recommend a hysterectomy to treat your condition. A hysterectomy can sometimes be performed through the vagina. However, when the uterus is large or if you have internal scarring from prior surgery or other conditions, an abdominal hysterectomy is usually performed.
Traditionally, abdominal hysterectomies are performed with open surgery, which requires a wide incision below the navel. This procedure can be painful, involving heavy pain medications, risk of infection and significant blood loss. After surgery, a long recovery (often 6 weeks) is necessary. In addition, many patients are not happy with the scar left by the incision. While a hysterectomy is a relatively safe procedure, it may not be appropriate or necessary for all individuals or conditions. Alternative treatments that preserve the uterus may be available. For example, da Vinci Myomectomy may be an option for women with fibroids who want to preserve their fertility and/or uterus. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.
If your doctor recommends a hysterectomy, you may be a candidate for an innovative, less invasive surgical procedure called da Vinci Hysterectomy. This procedure uses a state-of-the-art surgical system designed to help your doctor 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:

  • Significantly less pain
  • Less blood loss and need for transfusion
  • Less risk of infection
  • Shorter hospital stay
  • Quicker recovery and return to normal activities
  • Small incisions for minimal scarring
  • Better outcomes and patient satisfaction, in many cases

As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is patient-and procedure-specific.
The da Vinci Surgical System is designed to provide surgeons with enhanced capabilities, including high-definition 3D vision and a magnified view. Your doctor controls the da Vinci System, which translates his or her movements of tiny instruments inside your body. Though it is often called a “robot,” da Vinci cannot act on its own: instead, the surgery is performed entirely by your doctor.
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 more information see www.davincihysterectomy.com