Every year, about half a million American women undergo surgery for hysterectomy. Though the procedure is common, traditional methods meant major stress on the woman’s body, including long recovery times.
Minimally invasive approaches reduce tissue damage and recovery time, and robotic techniques using the da Vinci® surgical system represent the state of the art for patient-friendly hysterectomy. OBGYN Care in Newport Beach and Irvine, California, are leading providers of minimally invasive, robotically assisted gynecological surgery.
Though the concept might feel like it’s straight from a science fiction story, the da Vinci system represents a major innovation in minimally invasive surgical procedures, a logical extension of laparoscopic techniques.
Surgeons in the past were limited by what they could see and the tools they could manipulate. This meant that open surgery was needed for a clear view of the surgical field and for room to manoeuver manual surgical tools.
Laparoscopes changed the game by allowing the surgeon to see through a device that required a much smaller incision than open surgery required. Specially designed tools soon followed, allowing for more procedures through keyhole incisions.
There was still room for improvement, though, based mostly on the limits of human dexterity. Medical imaging systems advanced and robotic precision developed to the point where robotic instruments under control of a surgeon provided the ability to move in directions the human hand couldn’t match, with pinpoint accuracy. This control translates to benefits for you during and after your hysterectomy.
Any procedure on your abdomen works around several major organs that are closely packed into a space guarded by thick bands of core muscles. Open surgery requires cutting through these muscles and working around organs.
The da Vinci system instead uses incisions about half an inch long, with similarly sized openings through muscle tissue. There’s no need to stretch back skin and muscle tissue, causing further damage and stress, to access the uterus. Smaller incisions provide many of the benefits you’ll experience with robotic surgery. These include:
Sometimes, surgeons using laparoscopic techniques will switch to open surgery when faced with limitations of these procedures. This is less likely with the da Vinci system. You won’t be surprised after surgery with the change of approach.
The gynecological surgeons at OBGYN Care specialize in the da Vinci surgical platform, staying current with advances in technology and technique. When you require a hysterectomy, contact OBGYN Care by phone or online at the nearest location. Choosing the right surgeon is the start of a successful procedure. Book your consultation now.
