da Vinci Surgery is a minimally invasive option for women facing gynecologic surgery. For complex hysterectomies and other gynecologic procedures, robot-assisted surgery may be the most effective, least invasive treatment option. The system features a magnified 3D high-definition vision system and special wristed instruments that bend and rotate far greater than the human wrist.
If a woman required surgery for endometriosis, heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic prolapsed or perhaps cervical or uterine cancer or fibroid tumors, the procedure would require an open surgery where a large incision would be made in the abdomen allowing surgical tools and the surgeon's hands to fit into the body.
These procedures resulted in longer recovery times and the increased risk in complications. Open surgery is still used today, including hysterectomy, which is where the uterus is removed. Nearly 600,000 hysterectomies are performed in the U.S., making it the second most common surgical procedure.
However, thanks to medical advances most gynecologic surgeries are able to be performed laparoscopically, shortening the recovery time and allowing the patient to return to daily normal activities much more soon than with traditional open surgery.
Open surgery has been replaced by laparoscopy, which is a minimally invasive surgery were a few small incisions are made and a tiny camera and surgical instruments are inserted into the body. The surgeon sees the images on a video monitor while he or she operates.
Robotic Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
The newest minimally invasive surgical option is da Vinci Surgery. More than 1.5 million procedures have been performed around the world since 2000. Used for complex hysterectomies and other gynecologic procedures, de Vinci features a magnified 3D high-definition vision system and a robot with special wrist instruments that bends and rotates farther than a human wrist. This is the least invasive treatment option and allows the surgeon to operate with enhanced vision, precision, dexterity and control. Doctors make a few small incisions - similar to traditional laparoscopy - and operate with greater precision and control, minimizing the pain and risk associated with large incisions. The da Vinci Surgery also increases the chances for a faster recovery and positive clinical outcomes.
Myomectomy
Another common gynecologic surgery is myomectomy. During this procedure, the surgeon makes a large incision and removes each uterine fibroid. The doctor then repairs the uterine wall to minimize bleeding, possible infection and scarring. The surgeon also wants to reduce the chances of uterine rupture during pregnancy.
Each year, approximately 65,000 myomectomies are performed in the U.S., and many of those now use the da Vinci myomectomy procedure instead of the traditional open incision. This procedure, used in 100 percent of the top 50 cancer, urology and gynecology hospitals in the nation, combines the best of laparoscopy and open surgery. Thanks to the robotic technology of the da Vinci System, surgeons can remove the fibroids through small incisions with precision and control.
The state-of-the-art da Vinci uses the latest in surgical and robotics technologies to perform complex procedures, and the surgeon is totally in control of the da Vinci System, which translates his or her hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside the patient's body.
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