The Women's Specialists of Plano, a group of gynecologists in the Dallas, TX area, offer this article on the new approaches in hysterectomy surgery including robotic surgery using the da Vinci robotic surgical sytem.

1. This article originally appeared on obgynplano.com on July 31, 2012
Dallas, TX Gynecologists Discuss Robotic Surgery as a Treatment for Uterine Fibroids
and Other Gynecological Conditions
Most women, regardless of age, will experience a gynecological health problem at one time or another in their
life. Most of these conditions result in minor symptoms that can easily be treated, while others may require
prompt medical attention or possibly even surgery. According to a Dallas, Texas group of gynecologists, the
Women’s Specialist of Plano, “Every woman will experience bouts of cramping and menstrual bleeding
throughout their reproductive years. While it is normal for women to have pelvic pain and menstrual bleeding
during their normal menstrual cycle, it is not common to have pain and bleeding so severe that it disrupts the
normal activities of life. This almost always signals an underlying health problem that should be assessed by a
skilled gynecologist.”
Persistent and consistent symptoms that normally raise a red flag include:
• Painful, severe cramps and pelvic pain
• Persistent pelvic bloating
• Intense pelvic pressure
• Abdominal tenderness
• Pain during urination or intercourse
• Heavy, ongoing bleeding outside of a normal menstrual cycle
The symptoms listed above can occur alone, or in combination with each other, and may indicate:
• Uterine Fibroids: Non-cancerous (benign) tumors of solid muscle tissue that develop in the uterus
• Uterine Cysts: A fluid filled sac found in the pelvis that usually originate in the ovaries
• Uterine Prolapse: When the uterus falls or descents from its normal position into the vaginal area
• Endometriosis: A condition where the cells from the lining of the uterus grow in other areas of the body
• Cervical Cancer: A disease that forms when cancerous tumors develop and grow in the cervix
• Uterine Cancer: A disease that forms when cancerous tumors develop and grow in the uterus
• Menorrhagia: Very heavy, abnormal menstrual bleeding
• Dysmenorrhea: Very painful periods, excessive menstrual cramping and pelvic pain
When a woman has been diagnosed with one of
these gynecological conditions, if the symptoms
are severe enough, surgery by way of a
hysterectomy may be the best recommendation
and is often effective in eliminating a range of
disorders. A hysterectomy is a surgery in which
the uterus is removed. This can be done partially
or in full. Today, many gynecologists are turning
towards a minimally invasive approach to
performing a hysterectomy by using the da Vinci
robotic surgical system. While the robotic
surgery technique is still considered relatively
new, it is becoming a popular alternative for
women throughout the Dallas, Texas area as
they contemplate the right hysterectomy
approach for them.
Robotic surgery has been effective in the treating conditions that cause uterine fibroids, uterine cysts,
endometriosis, and other gynecological symptoms. According to Dr. Murray Fox, a Dallas, TX gynecologist
and an early robotic surgery pioneer, “Increasing numbers of women are choosing this approach when faced
with a myomectomy (removal of/treatment for uterine fibroids) or hysterectomy (the full or partial removal of
the uterus), for example. Robotic surgery continues to result in excellent clinical outcomes, while offering
patients an overall easier recovery period.”

2. The technology of the da Vinci robotic surgical system uses very tiny incisions allowing surgeons to use
miniature instruments and a 3D camera and microscope to view the inside of the uterus and operate with
precise movements. While the arm of the robot does the actual movement, the surgeon is responsible for
controlling and directing these moves with absolute accuracy and precision. The approach leaves minimal
scarring and reduces the loss of blood, pain, and overall trauma that historically accompanies an open
hysterectomy.
Not all gynecological practices in the Dallas, Texas area have adopted the robotic surgery approach. Despite
the revolutionary advancement, it is a big investment with a large learning curve. The gynecologists with the
Women’s Specialists of Plano state, “It will only be a matter of time until the robotic way is the only way. We
have seen the difference it has made in the hundreds of patients that have walked through the doors of our
North Dallas practice. It is revolutionary to say the least.”
To learn more about the da Vinci Robotic Surgery, please visit the Women’s Specialists of Plano, a board-
certified group of Dallas, TX gynecologists, at: http://www.obgynplano.com/dallas-frisco-allen/minimally-
invasive/robotic-surgery/.