Myomectomy
Surgical treatment for
uterine fibroids
often involves
hysterectomy,
or removal of the uterus. A common alternative is myomectomy, or surgical removal of the fibroids. This procedure preserves the uterus, and may be recommended for women who desire to become pregnant. Each year, roughly 65,000 myomectomies are performed in the U.S.1
The conventional approach to myomectomy is open surgery, through a large abdominal incision.2 After cutting around and removing each uterine fibroid, the surgeon must carefully repair the uterine wall to minimize potential uterine bleeding, infection and scarring. Proper repair is also critical to reducing the risk of uterine rupture during future pregnancies.
Myomectomy is also performed laparoscopically, or with special instruments through small incicsions. This approach can be challenging for the surgeon, and may compromise results compared to open surgery.3 Laparoscopic myomectomies often take longer than open abdominal myomectomies, and up to 28% are converted during surgery to an open abdominal incision.4
A new category of minimally invasive myomectomy,
da Vinci Myomectomy,
combines the best of open and laparoscopic surgery. With the assistance of the
da Vinci Surgical System,
surgeons may remove uterine fibroids through small incisions with unmatched precision and control.
-
Lumsden MA.Embolization versus myomectomy versus hysterectomy: Which is best, when? Hum Reprod. 2002; 17:253-259. Review.
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Becker ER, Spalding J, DuChane J, Horowitz IR. Inpatient surgical treatment patterns for patients with uterine fibroids in the United States, 1998-2002. J Natl Med Assoc. 2005 Oct;97(10):1336-42.
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Kristen A. Wolanske, MD; Roy L. Gordon, MD. Uterine Artery Embolization: Where Does it Stand in the Management of Uterine Leiomyomas? Part 2. Appl Radiol 33(10):18-25, 2004. Medscape.10/27/2004.
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Advincula AP, Song A, Burke W, Reynolds RK. Preliminary experience with robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy. J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc. 2004 Nov;11(4):511-8.
Learn more:
>
da Vinci urologic surgery
(including
treatment for prostate cancer
)
>
da Vinci gynocelogic surgery
(including hysterectomy)
> da Vinci cardiothoracic surgery (including mitral valve repair)
> The da Vinci Surgical System at daVinciSurgery.com
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.