When you need any type of gynecological procedure, one of your overall goals is that it be a minimally invasive surgery in the Woodlands so that you can recover quickly and move on with your life.
When you need any type of gynecological procedure, one of your overall goals is that it be a minimally invasive surgery in the Woodlands so that you can recover quickly and move on with your life. Robotic surgery in the Woodlands is a great option for this reason, but there are some other things you need to know about robotic surgery. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Robotic Surgery?
Da Vinci robotic surgery is a cutting edge surgical technique used for many different types of surgery. Although it may sound like a robot is performing the surgery, it is actually like an assistant that the doctor uses to perform a surgery in a less-invasive manner. The surgeon is in the operating room and controls a robotic surgical device via computer through small incisions. It is similar to laparoscopic surgeries, but much more precise and even less-invasive than laparoscopic surgeries.
What Gynecologic Conditions Can It Treat?
Robotic surgery is used to treat many gynecologic surgeries. It’s becoming more popular for hysterectomies, and it can also remove non-cancerous fibroids, correct vaginal prolapse, help with urinary leakage, and help address problems due to endometriosis. It can also be used to reverse tubal ligation and help reconstruct a damaged pelvis.
What Are the Benefits?
Robotic-assisted surgeries have many benefits over a typical surgery and even laparoscopic surgeries. Most patients undergoing robotic surgery only have to stay in the hospital for one day, rather than 3 to 5. Many patients can recover without the use of prescription medications and are able to manage the pain with typical over-the-counter medications. The recovery is much quicker and the scarring is minimal, because only small incisions are made. Additionally, the surgery is much more precise, because the device can separate tissue easily. Patients lose less blood and have a much lower risk of complications or infection following the surgery than in an open surgery as well.
How Does It Work?
In robotic surgery, the surgeon sits at a computer console in the operating room to control robotic arms that have micro instruments attached to them. The control is similar to a joystick and controls the movement of the robotic instruments. Unlike other surgeries, hand tremors are non-existents because the device automatically corrects any tremors, so the movements are even more accurate than a human hand. A scope is inserted through a very small incision, only .5-.75 inches long. This scope has a camera on the end so that the surgeon has a 3D, detailed view which can be magnified by 10. Since the incision is so small, the surgeon has even better visibility, because there is less blood obscuring the view.
What Should You Expect?
As with any surgery, robotic surgery does come with some risks, such as anesthesia reaction, infection, bleeding, or damage to surrounding organs. However, these complications are very rare, and you can expect your surgery to go smoothly. The amount and type of pain medication required after a robotic surgery varies depending on the surgery, as does the recovery time. However, you can generally expect it to be much less than regular surgery.