Learn why da Vinci® Surgery may be your best treatment option
A uterine fibroid is a common type of benign (non-cancerous) tumor that develops within the uterine wall. Uterine fibroids occur in up to one third of all women and are actually the leading reason for hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) in the United States. Uterine fibroids occur in 20-40% of all women during reproductive years. Uterine fibroids may grow as a single tumor or clusters. They often increase in size and frequency with age, but may also revert in size after menopause. While not all women with fibroids experience symptoms, these may include excessive menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain and difficulty getting pregnant.
A common alternative to hysterectomy for fibroids is myomectomy, the surgical removal of fibroid tumors and a procedure considered standardof- care for removing fibroids and preserving the uterus. It therefore may be recommended for women who wish to become pregnant. Myomectomy is most often performed through a large abdominal incision. After removing each fibroid, the surgeon repairs the uterus to minimize potential bleeding, infection and scarring. Proper repair is critical to reducing the risk of uterine rupture during a future pregnancy.
Fibroid embolization is a newer, non-invasive treatment available but, there are limited studies showing its long-term success. Another approach, laparoscopic myomectomy, offers a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery but is usually not an option for women with large fibroids, multiple fibroids or with fibroids in difficultto- reach areas.
If your doctor recommends surgery to treat uterine fibroids, you may be a candidate for a uterine-preserving, minimally invasive procedure – da Vinci Myomectomy. Using the most advanced technology available, da Vinci Myomectomy enables surgeons to perform this delicate operation with unmatched precision, vision and control using only a few small incisions. For women who want a uterine-sparing procedure, da Vinci Myomectomy offers numerous potential benefits over open abdominal surgery, including:
As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is patient- and procedure- specific.
