SPONSORED FEATURE
ROBOTIC SURGERY FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS :
A PATH TO BETTER OUTCOMES
By : Dr Sharifah Halimah Jaafar , Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist , Endometriosis Specialist , and Advanced Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgeon . Gleneagles Hospital Johor . evidence , minimally invasive surgery is the first line of options that offers greater benefits and better fertility outcomes than the traditional open abdomen approach when surgery is indicated .
The Evolution of Endometriosis Surgery For many years , open surgery , or laparotomy , was the standard approach for treating severe endometriosis . This procedure involves making a large incision in the abdominal wall to access and remove endometriotic tissue . While effective , laparotomy comes with significant drawbacks , including large scars , longer recovery times , and a higher risk of complications such as infection , blood loss , and scar formation .
The introduction of laparoscopic surgery marked a significant advancement in the treatment of endometriosis . This minimally invasive technique involves making small incisions in the abdomen through which a camera and surgical instruments are inserted . Laparoscopy offers several benefits over open surgery , including smaller scars , reduced postoperative pain , and shorter hospital stays . However , despite these advantages , laparoscopic surgery has limitations , particularly regarding the surgeon ’ s dexterity and visualization quality in complex cases . When tackling the endometriosis lesion deep in the pelvis and involving a difficult area , it requires greater flexibility and ergonomics to excise the disease , which is challenging with the non-flexible laparoscopic equipment and , hence , incomplete excision of the deep disease .
Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological condition that affects approximately 10 % of women of reproductive age worldwide . This condition occurs when tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus ( endometrium ) starts to grow outside the uterus , leading to a variety of symptoms such as pelvic pain , dysmenorrhea , and in severe cases , infertility . For many women , the journey to diagnosis and treatment can be long and challenging . Hormonal treatment is the mainstay of symptomatic treatment in younger women to relieve monthly pain and prevent further progression of the disease . For women who desire fertility , medically assisted conception is recommended . However , in severe symptomatic diseases , especially in those with deeply infiltrating endometriosis , surgical intervention is necessary . According to the current best available
Enter Robotic Surgery Robotic surgery , or robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery , utilizes advanced robotic systems to enhance the surgeon ’ s capabilities . The most widely used system is the da Vinci Surgical System , which provides the surgeon with a high-definition , threedimensional view of the operative field and greater precision through articulated instruments that surpass the natural range of motion of the human hand . This combination allows for meticulous dissection and removal of endometriotic tissue , even in the most challenging and complex cases , especially in the deep pelvis and deeply infiltrating disease involving organs like the bladder , ureter , and bowel .
Advantages of Robotic Surgery Precision and Accuracy : One of the most significant advantages of robotic surgery is its unparalleled precision . The robotic instruments provide a greater
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