Gynecologic Robotic Surgery

At UT Southwestern Medical Center, our skilled surgeons have advanced training and years of expertise in gynecologic robotic surgery using equipment that enables minimally invasive surgical procedures. With this innovative technology, we successfully treat cancer and other gynecologic conditions while reducing the physical burden on our patients.

High-Volume Expertise in Gynecologic Robotic Surgery

Gynecologic robotic surgery is one of the latest innovations in minimally invasive surgical techniques. Using a narrow, lighted scope and miniature instruments controlled through a robotic system, our gynecological surgeons are able to treat several conditions that affect a woman’s reproductive organs.

With traditional, open surgery, surgeons make one long incision to access the area for treatment. With laparoscopic surgery, surgeons hold and manipulate a scope and instruments through a few small incisions. Robotic surgery is similar to laparoscopy, the main difference being in how surgeons control the surgical tools.

At UT Southwestern, our gynecologic surgeons have the highly specialized training necessary to perform these advanced robotic procedures, and because they’ve performed thousands of them, they’re able to ensure patients have the best possible results.

Conditions We Treat Using Gynecologic Robotic Surgery

Using gynecologic robotic surgery, our experienced gynecologic surgeons treat conditions such as:

• Abdominal pain and pelvic pain
• Endometriosis
• Gynecologic cancer such as cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer
• Painful periods and heavy bleeding
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Uterine fibroids

Treatment with Gynecologic Robotic Surgery

Our robotic surgical system includes:

• A console at which the surgeon controls the scope and instruments using hand controls and views the scope’s images on a screen
• A robotic cart with arms that hold the instruments
• A camera that provides 3D views of the surgical site
• Wristed instruments that translate the surgeon’s hand movements into precise micro-movements to perform surgery

Seated at the console, the surgeon performs even the most delicate, complex procedures through small incisions with extreme precision. The robotic system is not programmable and does not make any movements on its own – it’s completely controlled by the surgeon.

An important part of the process is the assistant surgeon, who stands at the operating table beside the patient and manually manipulates an accessory port to assist with tasks such as fine suturing.

At UT Southwestern, our gynecologic surgeons perform procedures such as:

• Robotic endometriosis resection to remove abnormal growths in the pelvic area while leaving the uterus and other organs in place
• Robotic hysterectomy to remove the uterus
• Robotic myomectomy to remove uterine fibroids, leaving the uterus intact
• Robotic sacrocolpopexy to repair pelvic organ prolapse, using surgical mesh to hold organs in their proper position

Benefits of Gynecologic Robotic Surgery

Robotic surgery provides a number of benefits over open and laparoscopic surgery, such as:

• Less blood loss and reduced need for transfusions
• Less postoperative pain and discomfort
• Less scarring
• Lower risk of infection
• More precise surgery
• Quicker recovery and return to work
• Shorter hospital stays

Clinical Trials

As one of the nation’s top academic medical centers, UT Southwestern offers a number of clinical trials aimed at improving screening, diagnosis, and treatment of all types of conditions that affect women’s health.

Clinical trials often give patients access to leading-edge treatments that are not yet widely available. Eligible patients who choose to participate in one of UT Southwestern’s clinical trials might receive treatments years before they are available to the public.