Hysterectomy is a surgery for the removal of the uterus and possibly the ovaries and fallopian tubes as well. There are certain medical conditions in which having a hysterectomy is considered. The most common are intense bleeding, endometrial polyps, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, pelvic prolapse, and other endometrial concerns. Some of the common symptoms for these conditions are: pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, irregular periods, fatigue, unusual bloating, pain during intercourse, and infertility. If the symptoms are severe, the doctor may suggest medicine, lifestyle changes or surgery. There are different ways to perform hysterectomy. The surgeon may operate through vaginal hysterectomy, abdominal hysterectomy, laparoscopy or the Single Incision. For benign (non-cancerous) conditions, the da Vinci hysterectomy is a good option for patients.
da Vinci Hysterectomy
With da Vinci Surgery, doctors remove the uterus and possibly the ovaries and fallopian tubes through the belly button using state-of-the-art instruments. Patients who choose da Vinci Surgery experience virtually scarless results, similar to single incision traditional laparoscopy. The instruments and camera cross within the port and use remote center technology to minimize cannula collisions, arm interferences and port-site movement. The da Vinci System software automatically detects and re-associates the user’s hands with the instrument tips to create Intuitive® movement through crossed cannulae. The curved architecture of the cannulae separates the instrument arms outside the body wall, maximizing range of motion and minimizing instrument crowding.
Benefits of da Vinci Hysterectomy
As a result of da Vinci technology, da Vinci Hysterectomy offers the following potential benefits:
- Low blood loss
- Low rate of converting to traditional laparoscopy
- and open surgery
- Low rate of complications
- Short hospital stay
- Small incision for virtually scarless results
Risks & Considerations Related to Hysterectomy, including da Vinci Surgery:
Patients may experience injury to the ureters (ureters drain urine from the kidney into the bladder), vaginal cuff problem (replaces cervix), scar tissue in vaginal incision, infection, bacterial skin infection, pooling/clotting of blood, incision opens or separates, injury to bladder (organ that holds urine), bowel injury, vaginal shortening, problems urinating (cannot empty bladder, urgent or frequent need to urinate, leaking urine, slow or weak stream), abnormal hole from the vagina into the urinary tract or rectum, vaginal tear or deep cut. Patients undergoing a hysterectomy who have an undiagnosed cancer may be at risk of having cancer cells spread if the uterus is cut into pieces for removal.
Important Information for Patients
Serious complications may occur in any surgery, including da Vinci® Surgery. Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if da Vinci Surgery is right for them. For more information about the da Vinci Surgery at Dr. Zadeh, please call us at (760) 550-6327. You can also set an appointment online.