There’s a reason conventional surgery is called invasive. For gynecological issues, this can require opening the abdomen to reach the reproductive organs, and these traditional surgeries can cause slow recovery, pain, an increased risk of infection, and other complications.
Huge strides in medical technology in recent years mean many of these issues can be prevented thanks to minimally invasive surgery. Darin Swainston, MD, FACOG, is a big advocate of robot-assisted surgery and has extensive experience using it at his gynecological practice here in Las Vegas.
Using a video-equipped robot allows Dr. Swainston to get a better view of your cervix and womb from just a few small incisions. The alternative is open surgery, which requires a much bigger incision to literally open the abdomen to see what’s going on inside.
While video has been available with laparoscopic surgery for a while now, robot-assisted surgery goes a step further with highly detailed 3-D images that can be adjusted and magnified for a far superior visualization, allowing precise removal and repair. This is particularly important when removing tumors and lymph nodes to ensure a good clearance of the cancer, and to avoid damaging any blood vessels.
Due to the different techniques used in robot-assisted surgery, there is significantly less pain and blood loss than with conventional surgical approaches. The abdomen undergoes less trauma because the movements used during the surgery are at the wrist side of the surgical instrument rather than inside the abdomen itself. Combined with the precise movements, this means less damaged tissue and therefore considerably less pain.
Blood loss is something we try to minimize wherever possible during surgery, of course, and using robotics has made this easier thanks to the enhanced views the robot can give Dr. Swainston. Gas that is used to inflate the abdomen during surgery also compresses the blood vessels to prevent them from becoming damaged while providing a better view of the surgical area.
No one likes being stuck in the hospital for too long, of course, but more rapid recovery is possible thanks to robot-assisted surgery. Due to the small incisions used for your procedure, the chances of infection are significantly reduced along with other complications common with more invasive procedures, such as blood clots, pneumonia, and excessive bleeding.
Operation times are often significantly shorter than more invasive procedures, meaning less general anesthetic is necessary. How much anesthesia is used is one factor in how long you need to recover. During your pre-operative consultation with Dr. Swainston, you’ll get a better picture of how long recovery may take.
The aim is to get you back on your feet and enjoying life again as quickly as possible, and using robot-assisted surgery is one way of making that happen. You’ll need only one or two check-ups with Dr. Swainston after having your surgery to ensure that everything went as planned, and your medical issue has been resolved. If cancer is involved, you’ll return at specific intervals to check for a recurrence.
To find out more about minimally invasive surgery and whether it’s the best option for you, book an appointment with Dr. Swainston today using our online form or calling us at 702-357-5741.
