Do you feel like you drew the shortest straw? It’s not like you to complain, but sometimes it seems like everyone around you has it easy while you’ve been suffering from uterine fibroids for a long time.

We know it hasn’t been easy, but you’re definitely not alone. Studies show that 1 in 5 women have to deal with fibroids during their childbearing years. There are varying degrees of discomfort, but when there is debilitating pain or lifestyle restrictions, it is time to talk to your physician.

You’ve long since come to terms with what you can and can’t do when the symptoms are at their worst. You’ve tried everything to cope with the pain and inconvenience. Although surgery can seem like an intimidating step to take, it may be the right option for you if solutions like medication, changes in lifestyle or non-surgical treatments have not been effective. Did you know there are options available at Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake to help with the suffering?

Here are four options for you to consider:

1. Hysteroscopy. This procedure can remove fibroids growing inside the uterus. This minimally invasive procedure is usually done as an outpatient. Your physician will use a thin viewing tool to search for fibroids to then remove them. A mild sedative or numbing agent may be given for your comfort. If you are planning on having children, this might be a good option for you.

1. Uterine artery embolization. This procedure stops the blood supply to the fibroid, causing it to shrink and die. If you are not planning to have children and if you have not yet reached menopause, this might be a good option for you.

1. Myomectomy. This surgery removes the fibroids from the uterus. This may be a good choice if you want to have children and sometimes improves chances for pregnancy. It won't prevent fibroids from growing again.

1. Hysterectomy. This surgery removes the uterus either partially or completely. This may be an option for you if you don't want children, if medicines do not work, and if you cannot have any other procedures.

At Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake, we are pleased to offer the da Vinci Surgical System® robotic surgery for both myomectomy and hysterectomy. This system makes either of these two procedures minimally invasive. Click here to learn more.

You don’t have to suffer any longer. Call us today at 866-764-3627 to find out if you are a good candidate for one of these procedures.

Photo credit: Stockbyte/Thinkstock

Risks & Considerations Related to Hysterectomy & da Vinci Surgery:

Potential risks of a hysterectomy procedure include:

• Separation of the vaginal incision
• Blocked lung artery
• Urinary tract injury

In addition to these risks, there are risks related to minimally invasive surgery, including da Vinci Surgery for hysterectomy, such as hernia (bulging tissue at incision site).1

Important Information for Patients:
All surgery presents risk, including da Vinci Surgery. Results, including cosmetic results, may vary. Serious complications may occur in any surgery, up to and including death. Examples of serious and life-threatening complications, which may require hospitalization, include injury to tissues or organs; bleeding; infection, and internal scarring that can cause long-lasting dysfunction or pain. Temporary pain or nerve injury has been linked to the inverted position often used during abdominal and pelvic surgery. Patients should understand that risks of surgery include potential for human error and potential for equipment failure. Risks specific to minimally invasive surgery may include: a longer operative time; the need to convert the procedure to other surgical techniques; the need for additional or larger incision sites; a longer operation or longer time under anesthesia than your surgeon originally predicts. Converting the procedure to open could mean a longer operative time, long time under anesthesia, and could lead to increased complications. Research suggests that there may be an increased risk of incision-site hernia with single-incision surgery. Patients who bleed easily, have abnormal blood clotting, are pregnant or morbidly obese are typically not candidates for minimally invasive surgery, including da Vinci Surgery. Other surgical approaches are available. Patients should review the risks associated with all surgical approaches. They should talk to their doctors about their surgical experience and to decide if da Vinci is right for them. For more complete information on surgical risks, safety and indications for use, please refer to http://www.davincisurgery.com/safety.

All people depicted unless otherwise noted are models. © 2013 Intuitive Surgical. All rights reserved. Intuitive, Intuitive Surgical, da Vinci, da Vinci S, da Vinci Si, Single-Site, TilePro, FireFly, Skills Simulator, EndoWrist and EndoWrist One are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intuitive Surgical. All other product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. PN 870697 Rev C 07/13

1 Boggess JF, et al. Perioperative outcomes of robotically assisted hysterectomy for benign cases with complex pathology. Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Sep;114(3):585-93.

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake

9400 Poppy Drive
Dallas, TX 75218

214-324-6100
www.doctorshospitaldallas.com