Hysterectomy “Hot Sheet”

Gosh, just when I thought that robots that vacuum (like Roomba) were the ultimate in robotic technology….

Take a look at this: a 1,200-pound, million dollar robot that assists at laparoscopic hysterectomies.

Out of 600,000 hysterectomies performed each year in the U.S., just one out of 10 are laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomies (LAVH) — a much less invasive procedure than the TAH (total abdominal hysterectomy) performed on the majority of patients.

One of the key reasons why more women don’t receive the less invasive procedure is because of a long and difficult learning curve for surgeons.

The da Vinci(R) Surgical System hopes to remedy that difficulty. Robot-assisted surgery offers surgeons a way to perform finely controlled movements, while operating through a magnified 3-D view of the surgery site.

The robot’s camera and instruments are inserted in three or four inch-long slits in the abdomen (compared to a single 6-7-inch opening for a TAH). Doctors say that using the system is “like playing a video game.”

According to the system’s manufacturer, potential patient benefits include:

• Shorter hospital stay
• Less pain and scarring
• Less risk of wound infection
• Less blood loss and fewer transfusions
• Faster recovery
• Quicker return to normal activities

You can watch short videos on the system here, here and here.

So what do you think? Does robotic surgery make sense to you?

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When you see all the Pomp and Circumstance that surrounds the British royals, it’s hard to imagine that they would be troubled by the same kinds of things that bother you and me.

Not so, of course. For instance, recently the British press reported that Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall had made a full recovery after a “routine hysterectomy” on March 5.

The Duchess spent a week in hospital and was advised to rest and avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting for at least a month.

Six weeks later, Camilla “strolled for hours with a wooden crook for support” on an eight-mile country walk on the royal Scottish estate of Balmoral.

We wish her a continued strong recovery.

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What if you could predict whether or not you are likely to eventually choose to have a hysterectomy?

Well now you can, according to a new study released this month by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco.

The four-year study confirms a widely held belief in gynecology: “The more symptoms of discomfort a woman has, as well as the longer she has tried alternative therapies unsuccessfully, the more likely she is to have a hysterectomy.”

The three predictors are:

1. Multiple symptoms (for example, symptomatic fibroids or multiple pelvic symptoms)
2. Other treatments that do not bring relief (for example, myomectomy  or endometrial ablation)
3. Previous use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH agonists) to induce medical menopause

Having just a single symptom (such as heavy bleeding) results in only a 20 percent change of undergoing a hysterectomy. But having a combination of symptoms plus the other two predictors leads to an astonishing 95% chance.

According to Dr. Lee Learman, the lead investigator in the study:

That, in turn, means women with a high likelihood of hysterectomy can avoid years of pain and discomfort while trying other options first and women with a low likelihood of hysterectomy can explore other options with more confidence of their success.

You can learn more about the study here and here.

Over to you now…. Will this news have an effect on your decision?

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Did you know that an astonishing 600,000 U.S. women a year choose to have a hysterectomy?

There is no doubt that many women undergo the surgery unnecessarily, and still others who delay it longer than they should, fearing the consequences.

For women who are absolutely certain that a hysterectomy is right for them, I’ve written The Worried Woman’s Guide to a Happy Hysterectomy, to help you prepare well and recover well.

This blog, though, is to introduce you to the ongoing research and news and alternatives so that you can make an informed choice about your own treatment.

Watch for upcoming post on “Hysterectomy by Robot?” and a new study that predicts who will — and won’t — eventually have a hysterectomy.

We’ll talk soon….

Sheila

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