Robotic Surgery and Endometriosis

Robotic surgery is a technique where a robotic system is used to guide a surgeon to carry out a gynaecology surgery. In other words, it is not the robot which operates on the patient but guides and aids the surgeon to perform the surgery.

The da Vinci surgical robot has the ability to move its instruments with far greater surgical motion than conventional laparoscopic surgery. This aids the surgeon in stitching the tissues like the uterus and the ovary. It also helps to magnify the image of what the surgeon is seeing during the surgery.

Robotic surgery can be used in a number of scenarios in Gynaecology. It is widely used for malignancies of organs like the uterus. Robotics is also used for managing women in whom their pelvic organs are stuck together either due to previous multiple surgeries and for women who suffer from an entity called endometriosis.

In endometriosis there are many tissues within the pelvis which are stuck together. Sometimes, this disease extends to deeper structures like the gut or the urinary pipe or raven the nerves causing tremendous pain. The robotic systems have overlay of different modes to image the health of the tissues and guide the surgeon to judge the success of the surgery. These systems allow more dexterity and manoeuvrability for surgeon and cause less collateral damage. They also exert less pressure on the port where the instruments enter into the tummy leading to less postoperative pain.

Lastly robotics is especially useful to reach difficult locations like the area under the diaphragm which may be involved in endometriosis or even when there is disease on the upper part of the abdomen. The instruments being much stronger and manoeuvrable help the surgeon to achieve what he sets out to do for the best of the patient. 

FAQs:

Q. How much time does it take to recover? 

Ans. Patients who have undergone robotic surgery recover within a few hours and are usually mobile in a day. They are able to go home on the second or third day and return to work within no time.

Q. Can a pregnancy be planned, post such surgery?

Ans. With superior suturing capability, a robotic system is able to stitch the uterus more confidently allowing the patient to plan a pregnancy knowing her uterus is in the best possible condition to carry the pregnancy.

P. D. Hinduja Hospital offers robotic surgery in multiple specialities including Gyneacology. For more guidance with an specialist, you may click, Dr. Gaurav Desai - Consultant Gynecology (Robotic Pelvic Surgery) or call on 022 6766 8181/022 4510 8181 for appointment.