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Robotic Myomectomies

Shorter Recovery Time for Uterine Fibroid Removal

Patients at the University of Virginia Health System can now benefit from removal of uterine fibroids through robot-assisted myomectomies, which produce the same outcomes as traditional open myomectomies or laparotomies but with a shorter recovery period.

Robotic-assisted myomectomies are among the leading-edge services available through UVA’s Female Pelvic Medicine (Urogynecology) Clinic – the only one of its kind in central Virginia led by two fellowship-trained physicians in urogynecology.

An Effective, Less-Invasive Treatment Option

UVA is one of the few medical centers in Virginia performing robotic-assisted myomectomies using the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System™, says urogynecologist Elisa Trowbridge, M.D. Benefits to patients from robotic-assisted myomectomies include smaller incisions, a shorter hospital stay and a faster recovery period from the procedure, Trowbridge says. Patients typically leave the hospital within a day after the robotic-assisted myomectomy, compared with a minimum of two to three days for patients undergoing traditional open procedures. “The speed of recovery from the robotic-assisted myomectomy is tremendous,” Trowbridge says.

A study published in 2007 in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology found that women undergoing robotic-assisted myomectomies had longer procedures but less blood loss, lower complication rates and shorter hospital stays than patients undergoing traditional laparotomies.

Among the patients benefiting from this procedure’s minimally invasive approach are younger women seeking to preserve fertility, as well as women with symptomatic fibroids (women experiencing pelvic pain or heavy menstrual bleeding) who wish to preserve their uterus.

Full Range of Treatments for Female Pelvic Conditions

A robotic-assisted myomectomy is just one of the state-of-the-art treatments available through UVA’s Female Pelvic Medicine Clinic. Trowbridge and fellow urogynecologist Kathie Hullfish, M.D., offer comprehensive surgical and non-surgical treatments for female pelvic conditions.

For instance, UVA was one of the first medical centers in the country to perform robotic-assisted colopopexies for pelvic organ prolapse, allowing women to resume their normal routines within two to three weeks after surgery, compared with six to eight weeks for traditional open surgery.

Hullfish and Trowbridge also work closely with referring physicians as well as colorectal and urology specialists at UVA to tailor treatments to each patient’s needs and goals, focusing on improving patients’ quality of life. Treatment options include exercise programs and physical therapy, as well as medications and surgery if appropriate.

To refer a patient for a robotic-assisted myomectomy, call UVA Physician Direct at 800.552.3723.