Gynecologic Procedures Using the da Vinci® Surgical System
The female reproductive system
Gynecologic issues are those affecting the organs of a woman's reproductive system. When medicine, lifestyle changes and other non-invasive treatments cannot ease your symptoms, your doctor may recommend gynecologic surgery. Surgery is iften recommended for women facing gynecologic conditions such as:
- fibroid tumors
- endometriosis
- heavy menstrual bleeding
- pelvic prolapse
- cancer
If you are facing surgery, your doctor may suggest either open surgery or minimally invasive surgery, such as da Vinci® surgery. With open surgery, a large incision is made in your abdomen — large enough for your surgeon to fit his/her hands and instruments inside your body. Although open surgery has been the standard approach to many gynecologic procedures, there are certain drawbacks and trauma to the body due to the large incision. Using the da Vinci Surgical System, surgeons operate through a few small incisions instead of a large open incision, an approach that is similar to traditional laparoscopy. The da Vinci System features a magnified 3D high-definition vision system and special wristed instruments that bend and rotate far greater than the human wrist. da Vinci enables your doctor to operate with enhanced vision, precision, dexterity and control.
Endometriosis Resection
If you've been diagnosed with endometriosis, your doctor may recommend an endometriosis resection (removal of endometrial tissue/uterine lining) or a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus). If you are considering surgery, ask if you are a candidate for a da Vinci® endometriosis resection or a da Vinci® hysterectomy. A da Vinci endometriosis resection offers the following potential benefits:
- Low blood loss
- Low rate of complications
- Short hospital stay
- Small incisions for minimal scarring
Hysterectomy
Many da Vinci surgery patients return to normal activities more quickly.
If you plan to have a hysterectomy, you may be a candidate for da Vinci Hysterectomy. A da Vinci hysterectomy is the #1 minimally invasive hysterectomy performed in the U.S. With the da Vinci System, surgeons can remove your uterus through a small incision in the belly button using Single-Site® technology, or through a few small abdominal incisions instead of a large open incision (similar to traditional laparoscopy). The potential benefits of a da Vinci hysterectomy or a da Vinci® Single-Site® hysterectomy compared to traditional open surgery include:
- Less blood loss
- Fewer complications
- Shorter hospital stay
- Small incisions for minimal scarring
Myomectomy
If you've been diagnosed with fibroid tumors, your doctor may recommend a myomectomy, a procedure to remove your fibroids, but not your uterus. If you are considering surgery, ask if you are a candidate for a da Vinci® myomectomy, which offers the following potential benefits compared to traditional open surgery:
- Less blood loss
- Shorter hospital stay
- Less need for narcotic pain medicine
- Small incisions for minimal scarring
Sacrocolpopexy
If your symptoms from pelvic prolapse are severe and affect your lifestyle, your doctor may recommend a surgical procedure known as sacrocolpopexy. During this procedure, mesh is used to hold the affected pelvic organ(s) in their correct natural position. A sacrocolpopexy is not the same as what occurs during transvaginal placement of mesh. If you are considering surgery, ask if you are a candidate for a da Vinci® sacrocolpopexy, which offers the following potential benefits when compared to traditional open surgery:
- Less blood loss
- Shorter hospital stay
- Small incisions for minimal scarring
- Low rate of complications
- Improved urinary, bowel and pelvic symptoms