da Vinci Hysterectomy: A Less Invasive Surgical Procedure
A wide variety of benign (non-cancerous) conditions can affect a woman’s reproductive system, which consists of the uterus, the vagina, ovaries and fallopian tubes. Most of these conditions affect the uterus, which is the hollow, muscular organ that holds a baby as it grows inside a pregnant woman. Common types of gynecologic conditions like fibroids (non-cancerous growths in the uterine wall), endometriosis (non-cancerous growths of the uterine lining) or prolapse (falling or slipping of the uterus) can cause chronic pain and heavy bleeding, as well as other disabling symptoms. Women who experience these symptoms are often treated with hysterectomy - the surgical removal of the uterus. In fact, this procedure is the second most common surgical procedure for women in the United States, and an estimated one third of all U.S. women will have a hysterectomy by age 60.1
If your doctor recommends hysterectomy, you may be a candidate for an innovative, less invasive surgical procedure called da Vinci Hysterectomy. This procedure uses an advanced surgical system designed to help your physician perform the most precise and least invasive hysterectomy available today. For most women, da Vinci Hysterectomy offers numerous potential benefits over traditional surgical approaches, including:
- Significantly less pain
- Less blood loss and need for transfusion
- Less risk of infection
- Shorter hospital stay
- Quicker recovery and return to normal activities
- Small incisions for minimal scarring
- Better outcomes and patient satisfaction, in many cases
As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is patient and procedure specific.