HEALTH + WELLNESS
McLeod Robotic Surgery Team
Surgical Treatment for Common Pelvic Health Conditions Most women experience symptoms related to pelvic health issues at some point in their lifetime - from urinary incontinence, pelvic relaxation, uterine fibroids and endometriosis to chronic pelvic pain. These conditions often result when women have weakened pelvic muscles or tears in the connective tissue. While somewhat prevalent, pelvic health conditions are very personal health issues and sometimes difficult to discuss with a physician. However, McLeod Health’s team of pelvic health specialists are very knowledgeable about these conditions and compassionate when having personal conversations with their patients. Their ultimate goal is to provide relief from your symptoms and restore your quality of life so that you can thrive. Treatments for pelvic health conditions can range from simple exercises, medication, or physical therapy to non-invasive or minimally invasive procedures. When lifestyle modifications, medication and other conservative approaches such as pelvic floor therapy are no longer effective treatments, surgery may be the best solution. The idea of GYN surgery can cause mixed emotions – relief that a potential cure has been found as well as anxiety over what to expect. However, surgical 22
VIPMagSC.com
December 2021
advancements have led to more patient-friendly approaches for appropriate candidates. While many gynecological surgeries can be performed with traditional open surgery, involving larger incisions, or minimally invasive surgery with several small incisions, robotic-assisted gynecological surgery is another minimally invasive option for women to consider. Robotic-assisted surgery is an alternative to traditional open surgery and is performed through a few small incisions. It has all of the advantages of minimally invasive surgery, including less postoperative pain, smaller incisions, minimal scarring, shorter hospital stay, faster recovery time, and a quicker return to normal activities. Additional advantages for the surgeon that lead to benefits for the patient include: • The robotic instruments are designed to reach the exact angle to stop a blood vessel’s bleeding. • All the robot’s movements are very smooth and precise, minimizing damage to surrounding tissue and organs. • Overall, there’s less blood loss and damage to surrounding tissue as well as a lower risk of infection compared to open procedures.
