Gynecologic robotic surgery options are necessary when medication and non-invasive procedures are unable to relieve symptoms related to conditions like cervical and uterine cancer, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, uterine prolapse and menorrhagia or excessive bleeding.

Traditional open gynecologic surgery can come with significant pain, trauma, a long recovery process and threat to surrounding organs and nerves. Fortunately, less invasive options are available.

While the vaginal approach is utilized by surgeons for some gynecologic surgeries, for complex hysterectomies and other gynecologic procedures, robotic assisted surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may be the most effective, least invasive treatment option. Through tiny, 1-2 cm incisions, surgeons using the da Vinci System can operate with greater precision and control, minimizing the pain and risk associated with large incisions while increasing the likelihood of a fast recovery and excellent clinical outcomes.

Surgeons with Springfield Clinic's OB/GYN department perform the following procedures with the da Vinci system:

• Sacrocolpopexy: Sacrocolpopexy is a procedure to surgically correct vaginal vault prolapse where mesh is used to hold the vagina in the correct anatomical position. This procedure can also be performed following a hysterectomy to treat uterine prolapse to provide long-term support of the vagina. More than 120,000 women have surgery for uterine and vaginal vault prolapse each year in the United States. Prolapse (or falling) of any pelvic floor organs (vagina, uterus, bladder or rectum) occurs when the connective tissues or muscles in the body cavity are weak and cannot hold the pelvis in its natural position.
   
• Myomectomy: Myomectomy is a procedure to remove uterine fibroids, a condition affecting 30% of women. da Vinci With the assistance of the da Vinci Surgical System, surgeons can remove uterine fibroids through small incisions with unmatched precision and control.
   
• Hysterectomy: The most common surgery to treat gynecologic conditions such as heavy bleeding, fibroids, endometriosis and pelvic prolapse is a hysterectomy – the removal of the uterus. In fact, one in three women in the U.S. will have a hysterectomy before she turns 60.
   
• Hysterectomy for Gynecologic Cancer: Women with early stage gynecologic cancer are often treated with hysterectomy - the surgical removal of the uterus. The doctor may also need to remove the ovaries, fallopian tubes and/or select lymph nodes. The most common types of gynecologic cancers are cervical, endometrial or uterine, and ovarian cancer. The specific type of cancer a woman has and how advanced it is determines her treatment options. 
   
• Ovarian Cystectomy: Removal of ovarian cysts while leaving the ovary itself intact.
   
• Salpingo-oophorectomy: The removal of one or both ovaries, with the removal of a fallopian tube.
   
• Endometriosis Treatment: Endometriosis is a condition by which the uterine lining (endometrium) grows outside of the uterus (womb). It typically grows within the pelvis involving the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and bowel. It can cause painful menses (dysmenorrhea), painful intercourse (dyspareunia), pelvic pain and infertility. With the daVinci robot complex endometriosis surgery can now be treated by minimally invasive techniques.
   
• Pelvic Floor Reconstruction: A procedure or series of procedures to correct failure or prolapse within the pelvic region. 
   
• Oophorectomy: The removal or one or both ovaries.

Hear the advantages of robotic surgery directly from a doctor!  Listen to the podcast as Dr. Richard Eden, Dr. Toni Quinn and Dr. William Putman join Dr. Geoff Bland and Johnny Molson for the Springfield Clinic Checkup radio show on ALICE FM to discuss robotic hysterectomy. Also listen as Dr. Donna Sweetland joins to discuss other robotic gynecologic procedures.

More information on da Vinci robotics surgery at Springfield clinic is available in our Medical Innovations section. For more information on da Vinci, please visit  www.davincisurgery.com.

Robotic surgery is provided by these physicians at Springfield Clinic, Obstetrics & Gynecology Department:
Richard T. Eden, MD
Ernest E. Ertmoed, MD
William D. Putman, MD
Toni M. Quinn, MD
John C. Shaffer, MD, FACOG 
Donna J. Sweetland, MD