Endometriosis: Can da Vinci® Surgery Help?

Thanks to moderate to severe endometriosis, you’re struggling with pain, or the condition is causing problems with fertility. In either case, you want to find a solution that effectively remedies the problem without having to resort to invasive surgical procedures.

Answering the call is our innovative da Vinci® robotic surgery system, which is helping our team address a number of reproductive issues more effectively and safely than ever before. Here at Associates in Obstetrics & Gynecology, our own Dr. Jack Tubbs is considered a leading expert in da Vinci technology, and he has extensive experience helping women to overcome problematic endometriosis.

So, the short answer to the question we pose in the title of this month’s blog post about whether da Vinci surgery can help with endometriosis is, “Yes.” For the longer answer, read on to explore why da Vinci is so successful in this endeavor.

When endometriosis may require surgery

If you’re reading this, you likely understand how endometriosis is affecting your body, but it might be helpful to quickly review what we’re up against.

With endometriosis, endometrial lining grows outside your uterus and often attaches itself to other pelvic organs, such as your:

• Ovaries
• Fallopian tubes
• Rectum
• Bladder
• External uterine walls
• Cervix

Though the tissue is misplaced, it still acts as if it were inside your uterus and thickens with each menstrual cycle. When it comes time to shed out, however, this tissue has nowhere to go, and adhesions (tough scar tissue) can develop.

In many cases, these adhesions can cause considerable pain and impede function of your reproductive organs, which can lead to infertility. In fact, four out of 10 women who are experiencing fertility issues have endometriosis.

One of the frontline treatments for endometriosis is oral contraceptives, which isn’t a helpful solution if you’re trying to get pregnant. In these cases, having us remove the adhesions surgically may be your best option.

Even If you’re not trying to get pregnant, surgery can play a role if medications are unable to control your pain and discomfort, at which point removing the adhesions may be the best road to relief.

The da Vinci difference

The advent of minimally invasive surgery, which only requires small incisions and uses a camera and specialized instruments to do the work, has been a game-changer for gynecologic surgery. These laparoscopic techniques have reduced risks, shorter recovery time, and less discomfort, helping us resolve a wide range of reproductive issues as efficiently and safely as possible.

We take this innovation one step further with our da Vinci robotic system, which combines human experience with robotic precision and accuracy to further improve how we approach the surgical removal of endometrial adhesions.

With our da Vinci system, Dr. Tubbs sits at a console, which is located right next to you, and he operates using fully wristed instruments. These instruments translate the movements of his hands in very small spaces and add the accuracy and precision of robotic technology. 

Between the 3D camera and the robotic technology, we can locate and remove problematic endometrial adhesions and restore the anatomy of your reproductive system.

If you want to learn more about our cutting-edge da Vinci system and how it may hold the key to resolving your endometriosis-related issues, contact our office in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to set up a consultation.