FRIDAY, March 15 (HealthDay News) -- Despite claims to the contrary in "widespread marketing and advertising," expensive robotic surgery for hysterectomy is neither the only nor the best minimally invasive approach for the operation, according to a leading group representing obstetricians and gynecologists.
"It is important to separate the marketing hype from the reality when considering the best surgical approach for hysterectomies," Dr. James Breeden, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), said in a statement released Thursday.
He said the least invasive and cheapest method is vaginal hysterectomy, which involves going through a small opening at the top of the vagina, without any abdominal incisions. This approach has a low complication rate and is the procedure of choice when possible, according to ACOG.
When vaginal hysterectomy is not possible, laparoscopic hysterectomy is the second least invasive and costly option, according to ACOG.
It's important that women understand the facts when making a decision about hysterectomy surgery, Breeden said.
"While there may be some advantages to the use of robotics in complex hysterectomies, especially for cancer operations that require extensive surgery and removal of lymph nodes, studies have shown that adding this expensive technology for routine surgical care does not improve patient outcomes. Consequently, there is no good data proving that robotic hysterectomy is even as good as -- let alone better -- than existing, and far less costly, minimally invasive alternatives," Breeden said.
Women who undergo robotic hysterectomy typically have less discomfort, shorter hospitalizations and make a full recovery faster than those who have traditional total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), which requires a large incision.
However, both vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomy also require fewer days of hospitalization and far s
'/>"/>
| Copyright©2012 ScoutNews,LLC. All rights reserved |