McLeod Health: Surgical Treatments For Common Pelvic Health Conditions

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 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.

Dr. Candice Greenan and Dr. Eric Coughlin perform a myomectomy. Dr. Brad Campbell prepares a patient for robotic surgery.

Robotic-assisted surgery can be used for a wide range of both complex and common gynecological procedures, including but not limited to hysterectomy, laparoscopy, and pelvic floor repair. At McLeod, robotic-assisted surgery is a team approach with a designated team of operating room staff specially trained to work with each surgeon and surgical specialty. The robotic-assisted surgical team consists of a physician assistant, operating room nurses, and surgical technologists in addition to the surgeon. Following a robotic surgery at McLeod, patients go to Extended Recovery, a model of care developed by McLeod Outpatient Surgery to facilitate early hospital discharges, often on the same day as the patient’s surgery. Traditionally, patients stayed in recovery for approxinately four hours before being admitted overnight for observation. Extended Recovery, however, allows patients to remain in recovery a bit longer – usually six to eight hours – and then go home. Both McLeod Regional Medical Center and McLeod Health Seacoast offer this service. Extended Recovery has many benefits for GYN patients, especially those with chronic conditions and young families. The surgical process no longer disrupts medication management nor requires the additional stress of making family arrangements to accommodate a hospital stay. The McLeod care team monitors patients closely to ensure they are ready for discharge, and if for some reason the patient is uncomfortable going home, the physician can certainly admit them for additional observation. The program has achieved extremely positive outcomes including lower readmission rates and fewer visits to the Emergency Department after surgery. Extended Recovery is a convenient option for both patients and their families. The patient arrives and leaves from the same location, and the family stays in a single area to wait for their family member. With the advancements in robotic surgery, women now have more options than ever for treating their pelvic health condition. It is important to remember that roboticassisted surgery is not for everyone, so talk with your doctor to see if this is the right surgical option for you.

For more information, visit McLeodPelvicHealth.org.