www.gynla.com: Robotics in Gynecology: Dr. Ramin Mirhashemi, MD Discusses the Gynecological Benefits of the da Vinci Robot

TORRANCE, Calif., July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to fewer complications, minimally invasive robotic surgery has exploded in popularity and usage in the gynecology field. Robotic surgery, via use of the da Vinci robot, has been proven to benefit both physicians and patients because of reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays and recovery times as compared to traditional surgery. "Patients are opting for less-invasive treatment options, which is why the da Vinci robotic is now being used to perform robotic hysterectomy, robotic myomectomy, and robotic sacrocolpopexy, cancer removals and other gynecologic procedures," said Dr. Ramin Mirhashemi of Gynecological Oncology Associates, www.GYNLA.com.  

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"Five years ago, robotic surgery was not commonly associated with gynecologic treatment options," explained Dr. Mirhashemi. "Nowadays, it's more common for doctors to turn to robotics as an option for their practice." In his practice, Dr. Mirhashemi, who has published over 60 journal articles, research articles and book chapters on women's health, provides a full range of comprehensive gynecological care, including robotic surgery for the treatment of women's health conditions.

With the "largest experience in utilizing robotic surgery for gynecologic conditions West of the Mississippi," Dr. Mirhashemi sits at a console that controls three or four robotic arms over the patient according to his commands. The da Vinci robot provides three-dimensional imaging and instruments that mimic his movements, eliminating normal hand tremors and increasing magnification and visualization.

Many conditions affect a woman's uterus or womb, which are usually treated with a hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the uterus. It is the second most common surgical procedure in the U.S. with doctors performing about 600,000 hysterectomies each year.

Hysterectomies can offer a life-saving treatment for serious conditions such as cancer. However, in some cases, a hysterectomy is an elective procedure done to relieve chronic pain, bleeding or other disabling conditions, like fibroids (noncancerous tumors), endometriosis (noncancerous growth of the uterine lining) or prolapse (falling or slipping of the uterus).

In some cases, surgeons like Dr. Mirhashemi are able to offer an alternative uterine-sparing procedure such as a myomectomy or sacrocolpopexy, which can also be done via the da Vinci robot in a minimally invasive fashion. Dr. Mirhashemi has performed a large number of each of these procedures, which are described below:

da Vinci® Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy can sometimes be performed through the vagina. However, when the uterus is enlarged – for example, from fibroids or cancer – an abdominal hysterectomy is preferable. This requires a 6-12 inch incision. In some cases, doctors also remove the ovaries because they are thought to release hormones contributing to the condition. The da Vinci hysterectomy uses a state-of-the-art surgical system that results in a more precise, minimally invasive procedure.

da Vinci® Myomectomy

A myomectomy is the surgical removal of uterine fibroids. It preserves the uterus, and is recommended for women who wish to become pregnant. About 65,000 myomectomies are performed annually in the United States.

da Vinci® Sacrocolpopexy

Sacrocolpopexy surgically corrects vaginal vault prolapse. A surgical mesh is used to hold the vagina in the correct anatomical position. This procedure can also be performed after a hysterectomy to treat uterine prolapse and provide long-term support for the vagina. There are different approaches to correct this problem including conventional laparoscopy. The da Vinci approach to sacrocolpopexy is a more durable and accurate technique of performing this operation.

Dr. Mirhashemi recommends that any woman who has been diagnosed with a condition that may require surgery to learn of all of her treatment options, including the breakthrough da Vinci robotic approach to minimally invasive surgery. "The da Vinci robot is a significant advance in gynecological care and treatment," says Dr. Mirhashemi, "In my opinion, it is the most effective, least invasive and uterine-sparing option for many gynecologic conditions that require surgery."

SOURCE www.gynla.com