At Penfield Obstetrics and Gynecology, as physicians we are constantly researching new ways to provide our patients with the most advanced expert healthcare possible. For this reason Dr. Rahul Laroia, Dr. Johann Piquion and Dr. Waldemar Klimek have studied and trained in Robotic GYN surgeries. They have all performed numerous major gynecological surgeries since the Food and Drug Administration approved the da Vinci Robotic System in 2005. Their surgeries have included hysterectomy, myomectomy and sacrocolpopexy.
Traditionally, most gynecological surgeries are performed using a large abdominal incision to gain access to the uterus and neighboring structures. A hysterectomy is the most common gynecological surgery performed for conditions such as excessive bleeding, symptomatic uterine fibroids, endometriosis, uterine prolapse and gynecological malignancies. Approximately 650,000 hysterectomies are performed every year in the United States and two thirds of these are approached by the abdominal route. About 65,000 women with fibroids choose myomectomy over hysterectomy in order to conserve their uterus to retain reproductive ability. Abdominal surgery leads to a cosmetically large incision, significant pain, and an extended hospital stay in addition to time away from work.
Dr. Laroia, Dr. Piquion and Dr. Klimek feel it is extremely important that they be experts in advanced surgery techniques which includes robotic surgery, in order to be able to make available to our patients, less invasive surgical options. These options include vaginal surgery, conventional laparoscopic surgery that allows Penfield OB/GYN’s surgeons to operate through small incisions. The benefits of minimally invasive surgery include less pain and scarring, shorter hospital stays and early return to normal daily activities. During laparoscopy, we surgeons benefit from better visualization of the procedure. However, there are some drawbacks to conventional laparoscopic surgery including two dimensional imaging, rigid instrumentation with limited dexterity and precision. For these reasons, it is difficult to perform complex gynecological surgeries laparoscopically, as well as, those surgeries needing extensive suturing.
The da Vinci robotic system provides us an alternative to both traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Laroia is extremely pleased with the outcomes of these surgeries. This system allows the surgeon’s hands to control the state-of-the-art robotic system. We have the advantage of three-dimensional imaging, as well as, unparalleled precision and dexterity. The benefits for our patient include smaller incision with less scarring and pain, reduced blood loss, shorter recovery time, faster return to daily activities, and in many cases better clinical outcomes.