Hysterectomies Have Come a Long Way Thanks to Robotic-Assisted Surgery

Women have been undergoing hysterectomies — the surgical removal of the uterus — since the middle ages. And for much of that time, hysterectomies were performed without anesthesia. Fortunately for all of us, medical science and technology have come a long way since then. And in more recent history, hysterectomies have also come a long way thanks to robotic-assisted surgery.

Dr. Donald Jones performs state-of-the-art hysterectomies at Ozark OBGYN in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Dr. Jones is expertly trained and experienced in today’s gold standard of minimally invasive hysterectomies — the da Vinci® robotic-assisted surgical system.

The da Vinci system revolutionized hysterectomies

There were very few advancements in hysterectomy techniques from the 1920s to 1988. That’s nearly 70 years of hysterectomy surgeries that either involved a very large incision in the abdomen or painful tissue manipulation to remove the uterus vaginally. In 1988, the first laparoscopic hysterectomy was performed by a doctor in Pennsylvania.

Thankfully, if you require a hysterectomy today, you have the option of traditional laparoscopic surgery or, since its FDA-approval in 2000, da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery. Dr. Jones uses the da Vinci surgical system to perform a variety of minimally invasive procedures to improve female health and wellness. Among these procedures, Dr. Jones performs hysterectomies to remove the uterus including the cervix, and possibly the ovaries, and fallopian tubes.

The da Vinci system gives Dr. Jones several advantages as he performs hysterectomies, including:

• A 3-D view inside your body using a laparoscope, a tiny tube with a lighted camera
• Surgical instruments that bend and rotate better than the human hand
• 100% control over the procedure at all times
• Precision movements of tiny surgical instruments

The da Vinci system can treat many conditions

Nobody looks forward to surgery, but if it can relieve you of painful conditions that infringe on the quality of your health, life, and overall well-being, then surgery is worth it. Many times, that’s the case for women undergoing hysterectomies. You may benefit from a hysterectomy if you have a condition that hasn’t responded to more conservative treatments. Hysterectomies can treat:

• Uterine fibroids
• Heavy vaginal bleeding
• Pelvic pain
• Endometriosis

Dr. Jones can also perform a da Vinci robotic-assisted hysterectomy for certain types of uterine and ovarian cancers as well as other benign (non-cancerous) ovarian issues.

The da Vinci system has many benefits

If you need a hysterectomy, using the da Vinci system is advantageous for numerous reasons, including:

• Smaller incisions than most other techniques
• Minimal scarring
• Faster recovery time
• Minimally invasive
• Shorter hospital stay
• Less pain and fewer complications than with conventional hysterectomy surgery
• Less blood loss during surgery

The major advantage of Vinci robotic-assisted hysterectomy, in the eyes of many women is that they can return to their usual activities in about a week. There is very little pain during the following 3-4 weeks required for full recovery. And you’ll have just a few small incisions on your abdomen that are barely noticeable, instead of a long cut that is needed with traditional surgery.

While it’s not possible to have a da Vinci surgery for every type of hysterectomy, this innovative surgical system can treat many conditions. Dr. Jones will discuss your options and help you determine if a da Vinci surgery could provide the best outcome for your health needs.

To learn more about da Vinci surgery, book an appointment online or over the phone with Ozark OBGYN today.