Myomectomy Surgery Specialists | Robotic Fybroid Surgery KL

Robotic-Assisted Myomectomy Surgery

Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas or myomas) are the most common benign tumours of the uterus (muscular growth in the womb). Fibroids are very common and not cancerous. Approximately 80% of women will develop fibroids in their lifetime, and their occurrence tends to increase with age until a woman goes through menopause.

Q:

Who are at risk?

A:

Fibroids usually occur in women of childbearing age, affecting 20 to 40% of women older than 35 years old. However, they may shrink after menopause. It’s unclear why fibroids develop, but the factors below may affect women’s risk of having uterine fibroids:

First period before age of 10
African American race
Obesity
Family history of uterine fibroids
High blood pressure
No history of pregnancy

Q:

What are the signs and symptoms?

A:

Most women with uterine fibroids have no symptoms. However, fibroids may cause a number of symptoms depending on their size, location within the uterus, and how close they are to adjacent pelvic organs. The most frequent clinical symptoms are menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding), pelvic pressure, pain in lower back, cramping, painful sex, frequent urination, bloating, and difficulty getting pregnant.

Q:

What are the treatment options?

A:

Women who have no symptoms from fibroids do not require treatment. However, for those experiencing significant symptoms, they may opt for medical or surgical treatment options.

The best treatment depends on which symptom(s) are the most bothersome for the patient. For patients with minor symptoms, medications such as non-steroidal, anti-inflammatories and birth control pills can help to relieve their symptoms. However, if the fibroids cause significant discomfort or are associated with uterine bleeding, they may need to be removed.

Surgery is the primary approach to fibroid treatment. Apart from hysterectomy (removal of womb), women who are fertile and wish to get pregnant in the future may choose uterine-sparing techniques, such as myomectomy surgery, to remove fibroids from the uterus lining.

Myomectomy Surgery

With this surgery, fibroids are removed while leaving the uterus in place. After the removal of each fibroid, the surgeon will repair the uterus to minimise the potential for bleeding, infection and scarring. Proper repair is critical to reduce the risk of a uterine rupture during a future pregnancy. Myomectomy can be done through either open surgery or minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery).

Open Surgery

In open surgery, an incision (cut) is made in your abdomen. It must be large enough for your surgeon to easily see the pelvic organs and to accommodate their hands and instruments inside your body to reach these organs. However, the disadvantages of this approach is its invasiveness, as the surgery requires a larger incision and has risk factors which include blood loss, pain, infection and a longer recovery period. Typically, the recovery time for this surgery is ranges from 2 - 6 weeks.

Laparoscopic Surgery

With traditional laparoscopy, the surgeon operates through a few small incisions in your abdomen using long instruments and a tiny camera with 2D vision. However, this approach is considered technically challenging and requires a greater degree of skill in suturing with rigid instruments. Difficulty in obtaining accurate apposition of the edges of the uterine wound due to 2D vision and limited angles of insertion may lead to more adhesions after the surgery. As such, this surgery is not usually an option for women with large fibroids, multiple fibroids or fibroids in difficult to reach areas.

Robotic-Assisted Surgery

Using the da Vinci Surgical System, surgeons operate through a few small incisions. The da Vinci System features a 3D HD vision system that provides doctors with a magnified view inside the body. It also comes equipped with tiny instruments that bend and rotate far greater than the human hand can. These features enable surgeons to enhance his/ her skills when removing uterine fibroids and allow for better suturing for reconstructing the uterine wall.

Q:	How long does a robotic-assisted myomectomy surgery take?
A:	The surgery may take 2 to 3 hours depending on the patient’s anatomy, number and size of fibroids to remove and repair, as well as location in uterus, all of which may contribute to a longer duration.

Q:	How long will I have to stay in the hospital after surgery, and when can I resume normal activities?
A:	Most patients will need to stay in the hospital for 2 to 3 days, and they will be able to resume normal activities within 2 weeks after surgery.

Q:

What are the potential benefits of robotic-assisted myomectomy surgery?

A:

da Vinci myomectomy offers the following benefits:

Minimal scarring
Less blood loss
Less post-operative pain
Short hospital stay
Faster recovery
Similar rate of complication with laparoscopic surgery

Q:

What are the risks & considerations related to myomectomy surgery?

A:

Complications can arise in any type of surgery, and they are not just limited to robotic-assisted surgery. These complications may include a tear or hole in the uterus, the splitting or bursting of the uterus, pre-term (early) birth, and spontaneous abortions. Also, uterine tissue may contain unsuspected cancer. The cutting or morcellation of uterine or fibroid tissue during surgery may potentially spread cancer and reduce the patient’s long-term survival.

For important safety information, including surgical risks, indications, considerations and contraindications for use, please also refer to www.davincisurgery.com/safety or www.intuitivesurgical.com/safety

let’s get you treated

To find out more about how robotic surgery can benefit you, schedule
an appointment with one of our skilled robotic surgeons today.

BOOK NOW

CONTACT INFO

+603 7491 1394

+603 7491 1429

+6012 456 1219

Robotic Assisted Myomectomy Surgery