www.gynla.com: Robotic Surgery Expert Dr. Ramin Mirhashemi, MD Discusses the Pros and Cons of Robotic Hysterectomy Surgery
TORRANCE, Calif., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- With new studies debating the benefits of robotic hysterectomy surgery and others demonstrating the need for training and regulation, Dr. Ramin Mirhashemi of Gynecological Oncology Associates, www.gynla.com, cautions women to do their homework. "When it comes to women's health, or disease, education and even second opinions can result in an increase in alternative treatment options and improved quality of life for women," said Dr. Mirhashemi, known as the doctor with the "most experience in robotic surgery for gynecologic conditions west of the Mississippi."
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According to a study by the Women's Surgery Center in Washington, patients undergoing hysterectomy for benign gynecologic conditions such as uterine fibroids fare better in the hands of a skilled surgeon vs. high-tech robotics. The study compared laparoscopic (LRH) surgical outcomes vs. the da Vinci surgical system for benign gynecologic conditions. The results showed that LRH dramatically reduced operating time, patient costs, hospital stay and recovery for women undergoing hysterectomy. In other words, the experienced surgeon can perform LRH with far better and less expensive results, rendering robotics unnecessary.
Hysterectomy is the second most common surgical procedure among women, after c-sections. About 600,000 women in the U.S. have hysterectomies yearly, and over 60 percent of those surgeries are performed with outdated surgical methods, like open traditional surgeries. However, Dr. Mirhashemi, who has published over 60 journal articles, research articles and book chapters on women's health, could not disagree more with any of these findings. With over 800 da Vinci robotic hysterectomy surgeries to his credit, he is sure that any patient in his practice will be given the right treatment option for their surgery. This is why Dr. Mirhashemi advises women to learn more about the benefits of the da Vinci hysterectomy.
The da Vinci robotic platform is a new minimally invasive surgical technique technology that takes gynecological surgery to new heights by using only 3 or 4 small incisions. "The robot gives me more precise movements, dexterity and control as well as powerful 3D vision/magnification," he said. He, along with his staff, provide a full range of service options to provide professional expertise, individualized attention and the best possible comprehensive care to each of his patients. This is why Dr. Mirhashemi believes in the benefits of robotics, which are similar to LRH, but even more dramatic.
Dr. Mirhashemi, however, cautions patients that robotic surgery experience is paramount, due to recent reports of operations that didn't go well because of the doctors' inexperience and hospitals' low credentialing standards for surgeons. Reports of botched operations and deaths from robotic surgery at the hands of inexperienced surgeons have arisen. Robotic surgery is still a new but fast-growing field, with no standards for credentialing, which are hospital-specific. "Measures and strict guidelines need to be taken to ensure patient safety and successful surgical outcomes," he said, "Robotics is an exciting new field and needs to be regulated."
Regulation efforts are under way to come up with standardized guidelines. "The rule of thumb currently is that it takes at least 200 surgeries to become proficient with da Vinci surgery and reduce the risks of surgical complications, which many experts will debate," said Dr. Mirhashemi. Current training on the da Vinci system happens with an on-site, half-day training at Intuitive Surgical and then doctors are sent to a two-day surgical-skills training at one of da Vinci's 19 regional training centers.
"Patients need to check the surgeon's credentials, surgical experience and the hospital's safety record, because it's the qualifications, not the technology that matters most," said Dr. Mirhashemi, "Any tool is a bad tool if a doctor is not trained well enough; with the proper training, robotic surgery is an ideal treatment option."
SOURCE www.gynla.com
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