By Dr. Crista MacAllister, OB/GYN at Lakeside Doctors Gynecology & Obstetrics
When I first saw how quickly my colleagues’ patients were recovering after robotic surgery, I was blown away. They experienced less pain, shorter hospital stays and were able to return to their normal routines much sooner. As an OB/GYN, I’m always cautious about new technology. I want to be sure it truly benefits my patients before adopting it into my practice. But the results spoke for themselves.
After observing firsthand how much better patients were feeling post-op, I decided to pursue advanced training. Since completing that training in 2022, robotic surgery has truly changed the way I care for patients and how quickly they’re able to get back to their lives.
How Robotic Surgery Works
With robotic surgery, I sit at a console beside the patient while controlling tiny instruments through small incisions in your abdomen. Unlike traditional laparoscopy, these tools move like a human wrist, allowing for more precise, less painful surgery.
What Conditions Can be Treated
Most commonly, we use the robot for hysterectomies, but it’s also incredibly helpful for treating extensive endometriosis, removing fibroids and addressing large ovarian cysts. In many cases, it allows us to perform surgeries that would have required open surgery with a large abdominal incision in the past.
Faster Recovery and Fewer Complications
The difference in recovery is remarkable. With robotic surgery, patients experience less pain, fewer complications and a faster recovery. Many patients are home the same day, using only ibuprofen or Tylenol for pain, and back to work in two weeks. Compared to a six-week recovery after a traditional hysterectomy, that’s a huge difference.
Is Robotic Surgery a Good Fit for You?
Of course, robotic surgery isn’t right for everyone. If you have certain heart or lung conditions, a very high BMI, or a uterus that’s too large to safely access, we’ll talk through other options that are safer and more effective for you.
For example, the robotic system is positioned just a few centimeters from the belly button, so we need enough space to clearly see and work around the uterus. If the uterus extends up to or beyond the belly button, robotic access can be limited.
In patients with a high BMI, especially in the morbidly obese range, robotic surgery can pose additional challenges. The procedure requires a position called Trendelenburg, where the body is tilted with the head lower than the feet for up to 90 minutes. In this position, a heavy chest wall can make it difficult for the anesthesiologist to safely ventilate the patient, particularly if there’s underlying lung or heart disease.
Safety is always our first priority. If robotic surgery isn’t the best option for you, we’ll find an approach that is.
Clearing Up Common Misconceptions
A common misconception is that the robot is doing the surgery — but that’s not the case. Your surgeon is in complete control at all times, using the robotic system as a precise tool to perform the procedure with greater accuracy, flexibility, and safety.
Ask If Robotic Surgery is Right for You
If you’re considering a hysterectomy or another gynecologic procedure, ask your doctor if robotic surgery might be right for you. The benefits are real and worth exploring.