Uterine fibroids* are benign (non-cancerous) tumors occurring
in at least one quarter of all women.1 They can grow underneath
the uterine lining, inside the uterine wall, or outside the
uterus.
Many women don’t feel any symptoms with uterine tumors
or fibroids. But for others, these fibroids can cause excessive
menstrual bleeding (also called menorrhagia), abnormal periods,
uterine bleeding, pain, discomfort, frequent urination and
infertility.2
Treatments include uterine fibroid embolization – which
shrinks the tumor – and surgery. Surgical treatment for
uterine tumors most often involves the surgeon removing the
entire uterus, via hysterectomy.3
While hysterectomy is a proven way to resolve fibroids, it
may not be the best surgical treatment for every woman. If,
for example, you hope to later become pregnant, you may want
to consider alternatives to hysterectomy like myomectomy. Myomectomy
is a uterine-preserving procedure performed to remove uterine
fibroids.
Each year, roughly 65,000 myomectomies
are performed in the U.S.4 The conventional approach to myomectomy is open surgery,
through a large abdominal incision.5 After cutting around and
removing each uterine fibroid, the surgeon must carefully repair
the uterine wall to minimize potential uterine bleeding, infection
and scarring. Proper repair is also critical to reducing the
risk of uterine rupture during future pregnancies. Menorrhagia
is extensive menstrual bleeding.
While myomectomy is also performed laparoscopically, this
approach can be challenging for the surgeon, and may compromise
results compared to open surgery.6 Laparoscopic myomectomies
often take longer than open abdominal myomectomies, and up
to 28% are converted during surgery to an open abdominal incision.7
A new category of minimally invasive myomectomy, da Vinci® Myomectomy,
combines the best of open and laparoscopic surgery. With the
assistance of the da Vinci Surgical System – the latest
evolution in robotics technology – surgeons may remove
uterine fibroids through small incisions with unmatched precision
and control.
If you would like to explore whether you are a
candidate for myomectomy, ask your doctor.
|
* Uterine fibroids are also called fibroids, uterine
tumors, leiomyomata (singular – leiomyoma) and myomas
or myomata (singular – myoma)
- Newbold RR, DiAugustine RP, Risinger JI, Everitt
JI, Walmer DK, Parrott EC, Dixon D. Advances in uterine
leiomyoma research: conference overview, summary, and
future research recommendations. Environ Health Perspect.
2000 Oct;108 Suppl 5:769-73. Review.
- National Institutes of Health:
Fast Facts about Uterine Fibroids. www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/fibroids/sub1.htm#where
- Becker
ER, Spalding J, DuChane J, Horowitz IR. Inpatient surgical
treatment patterns for patients with uterine fibroids
in the United States, 1998-2002. J Natl Med Assoc. 2005
Oct;97(10):1336-42.
- Lumsden
MA.Embolization versus myomectomy versus hysterectomy:
Which is best, when? Hum Reprod. 2002; 17:253-259. Review.
- Becker
ER, Spalding J, DuChane J, Horowitz IR. Inpatient surgical
treatment patterns for patients with uterine fibroids
in the United States, 1998-2002. J Natl Med Assoc. 2005
Oct;97(10):1336-42.
- Kristen
A. Wolanske, MD; Roy L. Gordon, MD. Uterine Artery Embolization:
Where Does it Stand in the Management of Uterine Leiomyomas?
Part 2. Appl Radiol 33(10):18-25, 2004. Medscape.10/27/2004.
- Advincula
AP, Song A, Burke W, Reynolds RK. Preliminary experience
with robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy. J Am Assoc
Gynecol Laparosc. 2004 Nov;11(4):511-8.
While clinical studies support the effectiveness
of the da Vinci® System when used in minimally invasive
surgery, individual results may vary. Surgery with the
da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every
individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment
options, as well as their risks and benefits.
For additional information on minimally invasive surgery
with the da Vinci® Surgical System visit www.davincisurgery.com |
[ top ]
|
|
|
