When it’s necessary to perform a hysterectomy, it can be done through open surgery, which requires a large incision in your abdomen. The surgeon the looks directly at the surgical area through the large incision and removes the uterus using hand-held tools.
Advancements in technology have made minimally invasive options the preferred approach. There are three types of minimally invasive methods: vaginal hysterectomy, laparoscopic hysterectomy, or robotic-assisted surgery (at Columbus Women’s Care, we use the da Vinci robotic surgical system).
In a robotic hysterectomy with the da Vinci system, we can remove the uterus through either a few small incisions or through one small incision in the belly button. During robotic hysterectomy with da Vinci, Dr. Richey sits at a console next to the patient and operates using tiny instruments. Every hand movement she makes is translated by the da Vinci system in real time to bend and rotate those instruments with ultimate precision. Throughout the procedure, the da Vinci camera provides high-definition, 3D magnified views inside the body. This is a far cry from the obstructed views that often hinder laparoscopic procedures.