Gynecologic Surgery
When medication and non-invasive procedures are unable to relieve symptoms, minimally invasive or robotic-assisted surgery may be the most effective treatment for a range of gynecologic conditions such as:
- Dropped bladder or rectum
- Endometriosis
- Heavy vaginal bleeding
- Ovarian cysts
- Pelvic pain
- Urinary incontinence
- Uterine fibroids and polyps
- Uterine prolapse
- And other conditions
Request an appointment by calling Saint Peter’s Gynecologic Surgery Department at 732.339.7762
Minimally Invasive Procedures
For some gynecologic procedures, surgeons can access the targeted anatomy through a vaginal approach, which may not require an abdominal incision. For complex hysterectomies and other gynecologic procedures, laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery with the da Vinci® Surgical System may be the most effective, least invasive treatment option. Through tiny, 8-millimeter incisions, surgeons using the da Vinci Surgical System can operate with greater precision and control, minimizing the pain and risk associated with large incisions while increasing the likelihood of a speedy recovery and excellent clinical outcomes.
Saint Peter’s University Hospital has four state-of-the-art da Vinci Surgical Systems. The Gynecology Department has an experienced team capable of handling not only routine surgeries but complex cases with minimally invasive techniques.
Procedures, among others, include:
- Diagnostic laparoscopy
- Fistula repair (separating two organ spaces that have become connected)
- Hysterectomy (total laparoscopic)
- Myomectomy (removing even large fibroids for pain, bleeding, or infertility)
- Oophorectomy (removing ovaries)
- Ovarian cystectomy (removing an ovarian cyst or endometrioma while preserving the ovaries)
- Removal of endometriosis (for pain and/or for infertility)
- Removal of mesh (for prior mesh surgery with complication requiring removal)
- Sacral colpopexy (suspending a dropped uterus, bladder, or rectum with the highest success rate)
- Salpingectomy (removing the fallopian tubes)
- Supracervical hysterectomy (leaving a healthy cervix behind to help with pelvic support)
Traditional open gynecologic surgery, using a large incision and separation of the abdominal muscles for access to the pelvis and surrounding anatomy, has for many years been the standard approach to many gynecologic procedures. Most surgical pain results from these large incisions. Trauma to the abdominal musculature and can mean a long recovery process (up to six weeks) and trauma to surrounding organs and nerves. For women facing open gynecologic surgery, the period of pain, discomfort, and extended time away from work and normal activities can understandably cause significant anxiety and hardship. Minimally invasive surgery increases the likelihood of getting back to your normal, daily routine in a shorter amount of time, and with less pain.