NEWARK, N.J., Jan. 4, 2006 -- In
May 2005, Ida McIntyre, 39, of Piscataway, a senior compensation
analyst, showed up for her routine gynecological examination
at the office of Michael C. Pitter, MD. She had consistently
taken the exam over the years. Though, for some reason
in 2004, she had forgotten. She was now back on track,
at least she thought so until Dr. Pitter, an Ob/Gyn surgeon
at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBIMC), told her
during the examination that he felt something, possibly
a cyst or a uterine fibroid tumor (UFT). Ms. McIntyre was
instructed to have an ultrasound exam, which confirmed
that she did a large transmural fibroid measuring five
(5) centimeters and a complex ovarian cyst.
Ms. McIntyre’s first instinct was to wait and see
if her health problems would go away. By the summer, McIntyre
learned that the fibroid was actually growing. She had to
make a decision about her health. Dr. Pitter informed McIntyre
about her options for treatment: Having the traditional surgery
for removal of the tumors or to undergo a less invasive procedure
known as a laproscopic or the da Vinci myomectomy, a robotic-assisted
procedure.Traditionally, a myomectomy procedure which keeps
the uterus intact, is offered to women in childbearing years
as an alternative to a hysterectomy.
In traditional surgery, a myomectomy is often performed
through a large abdominal incision. After removing each fibroid,
the surgeon carefully repairs the uterus, to minimize potential
bleeding, infection and scarring. Proper repair of the uterus
is critical to reducing the risk of uterine rupture during
pregnancy which could result in loss of the pregnancy and
/or potentially life threatening intra-abdominal bleeding.
With robotic surgery, the surgeon is able to operate through
several small incisions about the size of a dime. The benefits
of robotics over traditional surgical approaches include
shorter hospital stay; less pain; less risk of wound infection;
less blood loss and need for blood transfusions; less scarring;
faster recovery and quicker return to normal activities.
A surgeon performing a robotic assisted laparoscopic myomectomy
is able to perform the same complex and delicate procedures
as the traditional approach without compromising the outcome
or patient safety.
The da Vinci robotic system used by surgeons at NBIMC consist
of surgeon’s console, a patient side cart, a high performance
3-D vision system and Endo Wrist articulating instruments.
In the operating room during robotic surgery, the surgeon
sits at the console with his hands on the master controls
and his eyes on a 3-D image of the surgical field. From the
patient-side cart, four robotic arms and one endoscope arm
precisely translate the surgeon’s
movements through small incisions in the patient.
After doing some research which included visiting the Newark
Beth Israel Medical Center website to learn more about laproscopic
and robotic procedures, Ms. McIntyre decided months later
to try the less-invasive approach. On November 9, 2005, Dr.
Pitter performed a robotic myomectomy at NBIMC to remove
Ms. McIntyre’s uterine fibroid using
the da Vinci Surgical system. At the same time, the ovarian
cyst was removed laproscopically. This procedure involves
making a small incision above or just below the navel to
allow insertion of a lighted instrument (laproscope) similar
to a slender telescope to give the surgeon a view of the
patient’s organs.
Ms. McIntyre says that since her surgery, she had not had
any major side effects. Post operative, she had some abdominal
discomfort which she took pain killers to alleviate. She
had minimal spotting and no infection. McIntyre says that
she would encourage other women to strongly consider having
the procedure. More importantly, she advises women to keep
their annual gynecological examinations. “My
gynecologist like other gynecologists are trained to know
what to feel for during an examination. They know what’s
normal and what’s not, “she says. “Although,
I didn’t
have any obvious symptoms, before my annual examination,
I was like a walking time bomb.” McIntyre feels better
knowing that her body is healthier and that she can now exercise
her options of possibly having a baby one day.
More than 25% of American women or one in five women, over
the age of 35 have uterine fibroids. Out of the 600,000 women
in America who undergo a hysterectomy or the removal of the
uterus, one third of the cases are related to fibroid problems.
Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that may grow as a single
tumor or in clusters. There are three types of uterine fibroid
tumors: submucous fibroids which grow into the uterine cavity,
mural fibroids are located inside the uterine wall and fibroids
that protrude outside the uterine wall are called subserous
fibroids. If left untreated, a uterine fibroid can cause
symptoms such as an increase in pain and bleeding with or
without menstruation and in some cases complicate pregnancies.
The most common symptoms women experience with uterine fibroid
tumors are heavy menstrual bleeding; pelvic pain; pressure
on the bladder: pressure on the rectum; infertility; miscarriage
or anemia. Surprisingly, some women like Ms. McIntyre, have
no symptoms at all.
McIntyre’s other health concern was an ovarian cyst.
Ovarian cysts not to be confused with uterine fibroids, are
enlargements on the ovary that appear to be filled with fluid.
They can be a simple fluids or solid components. Those with
complex structures are of greater concern to doctors as they
can be cancerous. Once a cyst is found, the gynecologist
will check over a period of time to see if the cyst shrinks,
if not, a blood test will be given to check for cancer. Laproscopic
surgery is often performed to remove complex cysts.
If you are having some of the symptoms described and have
not had your annual gynecological exam, please consult with
your physician. To learn more about robotic myomectomy surgery
at NBIMC, call 1 (800) THE-BETH.
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, an affiliate of the Saint
Barnabas Health Care System, is a 671-bed regional referral
teaching hospital with specialized programs including heart
and kidney transplantation, cardiac surgery, oncology, and
maternal/child health services. Children’s Hospital
of New Jersey is the state’s premier hospital caring
for children with specialized services to treat ill and injured
children from newborn through adolescent years, including
more than 30 pediatric specialties.
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