Laparoscopic Trumps Robotic in GYN Surgery
Women facing GYN surgery should be aware of all the facts when choosing the best specialist and surgical approach. Current marketing efforts lead the public to believe that robotic surgery is the best minimally invasive option out there. The reality of the situation is, with robotic surgery, there is a higher risk of complications compared to laparoscopic procedures and patients take longer to recover.
“Aggressive direct-to-consumer marketing of the latest medical technologies may mislead the public into believing that they are the best choice. Our patients deserve and need factual information about all of their treatment options, including costs, so that they can make truly informed health care decisions.” -Dr. James Breeden, President, American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The DualPortGYN approach with only two 5mm incisions, developed by CIGC fellowship trained specialists, is the most minimally invasive surgery available in the world today. DualPortGYN surgery allows for full visualization of the anatomy surrounding the uterus and ovaries with the help of a powerful technique called “retroperitoneal dissection”. This provides a more precise procedure, which minimizes complications and allows for the fastest possible recovery. When it comes to robotic surgery, there is higher risk of damage to surrounding areas and additional surgery may be required.
If your OBGYN suggests robotic GYN surgery, ask “Why?”
-> The American Congress of OB/GYN (ACOG) issued a statement to OBGYNs advising them against the robot and in favor of laparoscopic procedures.
-> The American Association of GYN Laparoscopic Surgeons (AAGL) stated that robotic surgery should not be used if standard laparoscopy and vaginal hysterectomy are available.
-> Many articles have been written in “peer reviewed journals” including the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) clearly showing that robotics is not a better approach compared to standard laparoscopy.
Be your own best advocate as a patient and ask many questions before making your final choice. Don’t hesitate to get a second opinion if your doctor intends to use the robot for your surgery. Robotic surgery complications outweigh the benefits and it is important to know that there are better options for your procedure.
At The Center for Innovative GYN Care, fellowship trained laparoscopic specialists Dr. Paul MacKoul, MD and Dr. Natalya Danilyants, MD perform innovative procedures like DualPortGYN and LAAM to provide the fastest possible recovery. You can always read what other patients have to say about our procedures on public review sites: Dr. Paul MacKoul Reviews | Dr. Natalya Danilyants Reviews. When you are ready to take the next step, we’ll be here for you.
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