More than 600,000 women in the U.S. undergo hysterectomies each year for non-cancer-related reasons. Ohio State had the first da Vinci® robot in North America and has been performing robotic gynecologic procedures since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved them in 2006.
Our expertise extends to robotic surgical treatment of benign gynecologic conditions as well, such as ovarian fibroids and other gynecologic abnormalities, pelvic pain and incontinence.
Gynecologic Procedures
In 2011, Ohio State’s surgeons performed more than 150 minimally invasive robotic procedures for benign gynecologic disorders, including:
- Hysterectomy for benign gynecologic abnormalities
- Hysterectomy and ovarian removal for risk-reduction for patients with genetic mutations who are at high risk for ovarian and uterine cancer
- Hysterectomy for precancerous lesions of cervix or uterus
- Removal of ovary or ovarian cyst in patients with a pelvic mass
- Myomectomy for removal of uterine fibroids
- Benign ovarian tumor removal
- Sacral colpopexy and other procedures for pelvic organ prolapse
Uterine Fibroids
Approximately 40,000 women a year undergo myomectomy for removal of uterine fibroids. The majority of these myomectomies are performed through open abdominal incisions. Surgeons at Ohio State have been using the advanced technology of robotics for several years to offer women a minimally invasive alternative for myomectomies.
Typically, the best candidates for robotic myomectomy have:
- Myomas that are intramural/subserosa or subserosa alone
- Larger, more visually prominent tumors
- No more than three to four tumors to be removed, depending on tumor size
Because myomectomy preserves the uterus and retains fertility, performing the procedure robotically has advantages for patients who wish to attempt pregnancy. Robotics equips the surgeon with enhanced three-dimensional viewing, allowing for precise and comprehensive reconstruction of the uterine wall, which improves the chance of carrying future pregnancies without risk of complication, such as uterine rupture. In addition, robotic myomectomy significantly reduces scarring, which minimizes the chances of adhesions developing.