Thanks to minimally invasive surgery (MIS), it's now possible for some women to avoid having a large incision made to the abdomen to treat common gynecologic conditions. Women who receive MIS most often have post-surgery recovery times measured in days, not weeks.
Women also benefit from minimally invasive (or laparoscopic) gynecologic surgery because it involves less pain, scarring and risk for infection compared with traditional open surgery. Also, MIS means the procedure can be done on an outpatient basis, making an overnight hospital stay unnecessary.
Gynecologists were among the first physicians to use laparoscopy in treating patients. David Zisow, M.D., gynecologist and the Associate Chief of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Northwest Hospital, performed the first total laparoscopic hysterectomy at Northwest Hospital in 2005. Since that time, he and other Northwest Hospital gynecologists have performed hundreds of MIS hysterectomies. In July 2010, Dr. Zisow completed the first robotically assisted total MIS hysterectomy at Northwest Hospital by using the da Vinci Surgical System.
Hysterectomy is only one of many different gynecologic surgeries done by using minimally invasive methods. Treatments for urinary stress incontinence, female hernias and chronic pelvic pain can also be performed with MIS. These minimally invasive procedures may be performed using either traditional "straight stick" laparoscopic methods or with robotic assistance, depending on individual circumstances and physician preference.
- Total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH)*
- Subtotal, or laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH)*
- Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH)*
- Myomectomy (removal of fibroids while preserving the uterus and fertility)
- Treatment of endometriosis and pelvic pain
- Presacral neurectomy to treat pelvic pain
- Treatment of ovarian cysts and tumors
- Treatment of tubal cysts and tumors and tubal pregnancy
- Sacrocolpopexy to treat vaginal prolapse
- Paravaginal repair
- Burch-Tanagho procedure to treat stress urinary incontinence
* These hysterectomies can be performed with our without removal of fallopian tubes and/or ovaries.
Conditions that can commonly be treated with gynecologic minimally invasive surgery include:
- Abnormal uterine bleeding
- Endometriosis
- Incontinence
- Ovarian cysts and tumors
- Uterine fibroids or polyps
- Uterine prolapse
- Cancer
To learn more about MIS treatment options for gynecologic conditions, call 410-601-WELL (9355).