A myomectomy is a surgical procedure to remove uterine fibroids from the uterus. Fibroids can cause abnormal uterine bleeding pressure and pain. In most cases, fibroids are removed through a hysterectomy, however, women who still hope to bear children typically undergo a myomectomy in order to keep the uterus.
In the past, myomectomies were performed wither laparoscopically or abdominally. While an abdominal myomectomy has the advantage of more easily removing fibroids that are deep in the uterine wall and discovering left over myomas, the incision is much larger than a laparoscopic myomectomy. In a laparoscopic myomectomy, incisions are smaller but is is difficult to remove those fibroids found in the submucous or deep in the uterine walls.
Now, with the use of da Vinci Surgical Systems, a myomectomy can be performed in a minimally invasive manner. The advantages the robotic myomectomy has over the laparoscopic option is that the surgical arms of the robot have the ability to move like human hands, allowing them to remove the fibroids that are deep in the uterine wall with a exponentially smaller incision than with an abdominal myomectomy. This speeds recovery, allows for more precise work, less scarring and less blood loss.
