Robotic Surgery

In additions to some of the latest surgical practices, such as laser surgery, several physicians at Greenville OB/GYN are certified in the use of the da Vinci® robotic-assisted surgical system. The daVinci system is the most advanced, least invasive gynecologic surgery method available to women today.

A Virtual End to Abdominal Surgery

The da Vinci Surgical System allows our doctors to treat gynecologic conditions that include uterine fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic pain, ovarian cysts, uterine prolapse and menorrhagia (excessive bleeding).

Our doctors perform a percentage of their hysterectomies and myomectomies with the da Vinci Surgical System. This includes women with prior Caesarian births, endometriosis, and those with an enlarged uterus.

You may still be a candidate for the daVinci® system even if your doctor recommends abdominal surgery.

A hysterectomy or myomectomy performed with the da Vinci system may result in less scarring, pain, blood loss and faster recovery than traditional surgical methods.

Greenville OB/GYN was the first private gynecologic practice in Greenville, North Carolina certified for use in the da Vinci system.

daVinci® Surgical Procedures:

Hysterectomy
Myomectomy
Sacrocolpopexy

daVinci® Hysterectomy

When medication and other treatments are unable to relieve symptoms, hysterectomy is often recommended to provide a more effective, definitive and long-term solution for excessive menstrual bleeding. If you are considering or your doctor has recommended a hysterectomy, you are not alone – one in three women in the U.S. will have a hysterectomy before turning 60.

da Vinci Hysterectomy offers numerous potential benefits over traditional approaches, including:

• Significantly less pain²
• Minimal blood loss and need for transfusion^11,3
• Fewer complications^11,12
• Shorter hospital stay^11,12
• Quicker recovery and return to normal activities^1,2
• Small incisions for minimal scarring
• Better outcomes and patient satisfaction, in many cases¹¹

This procedure is performed using the da Vinci Surgical System, a breakthrough surgical platform which enables gynecologists to operate with unmatched precision, dexterity and control. By overcoming the limitations of both traditional open and laparoscopic surgery, da Vinci is revolutionizing gynecologic surgery for women.

While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci^® System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.

Content provided by Intuitive Surgical. For more information on this topic, please visit www.davincisurgery.com

daVinci® Myomectomy

If your doctor recommends surgery to treat uterine fibroids*, you may be a candidate for a new, uterine-preserving, minimally invasive procedure – da Vinci Myomectomy. Using the assistance of the most advanced combination of surgical and robotics technology available – the da Vinci Surgical System – da Vinci Myomectomy enables surgeons to perform this delicate operation with unmatched precision and control – using only a few small incisions.

Another surgical alternative, laparoscopic myomectomy, is also minimally invasive. However, conventional laparoscopy has inherent technological limitations that limit its effectiveness for more complex surgical procedures.

In contrast, for many patients, da Vinci Myomectomy, a robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy, can provide the most effective, least invasive treatment for uterine fibroids. It is also a uterine-preserving alternative to open abdominal hysterectomy. Among the potential benefits of da Vinci Myomectomy as compared to traditional open abdominal surgery are:

• Opportunity for future pregnancy
• Significantly less pain
• Less blood loss
• Fewer complications
• Less scarring
• A shorter hospital stay
• A faster return to normal daily activities

da Vinci Myomectomy is performed with the da Vinci Surgical System, which allows your surgeon to perform a minimally invasive, yet remarkably precise, comprehensive reconstruction of the uterine wall, regardless of the size or location of your fibroids. The unique level of control and precision provided by da Vinci also can help your surgeon provide the most precise and thorough reconstruction possible, helping to prevent possible uterine rupture (tearing) during future pregnancies.

As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is both patient- and procedure-specific. While myomectomy performed using the da Vinci Surgical System is considered safe and effective, this procedure may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.

* Uterine fibroids are also called fibroids, uterine tumors, leiomyomata (singular – leiomyoma) and myomas or myomata (singular – myoma)

While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci^® System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.

Content provided by Intuitive Surgical. For more information on this topic, please visit www.davincisurgery.com

daVinci® Sacrocolpopexy

The Condition

120,000+ cases of uterine and vaginal vault prolapse are surgically treated each year in the U.S. Prolapse (or falling) of any pelvic floor organ (vagina, uterus, bladder or rectum) occurs when the connective tissues or muscles within the body cavity are weak and unable to hold the pelvis in its natural orientation.^1,2

The weakening of connective tissues accelerates with age, after childbirth, with weight gain and strenuous physical labor. Women experiencing pelvic organ prolapse typically have problems with urinary incontinence, vaginal ulceration, sexual dysfunction and/or having a bowel movement.

The Treatment

Sacrocolpopexy is a procedure to surgically correct vaginal vault prolapse where mesh is used to hold the vagina in the correct anatomical position. This procedure can also be performed following a hysterectomy to treat uterine prolapse to provide long-term support of the vagina.

Sacrocolpopexy has traditionally been performed as an open surgery. A 15-30 cm horizontal incision is made in the lower abdomen in order to manually access the inter-abdominal organs, including the uterus.

If your doctor recommends sacrocolpopexy, you may be a candidate for a new surgical procedure called da Vinci Sacrocolpopexy. This procedure uses a state-of-the-art surgical system designed to help your surgeon perform a minimally invasive surgery through small incisions.

For most women, da Vinci Sacrocolpopexy offers numerous potential benefits over a traditional open approach:

• Significantly less pain
• Less blood loss and need for transfusions
• Less risk of infection
• Less scarring
• Shorter hospital stay
• Shorter recovery time
• Quicker return to normal activities

As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is patient and procedure-specific.

1. National Center for Health Statistics, Hysterectomy Surveillance, U.S., 1994-1999
2. Marchionni M, et al., J Reprod Med 1999; 44(8): 679-684

While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci^® System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.

Content provided by Intuitive Surgical. For more information on this topic, please visit www.davincisurgery.com