Robotic-assisted surgeries in endometriosis treatment advances women’s health
Spokesperson: Dr Thow Sun Ta, Obstetrician, Gynecologist, & Fertility Specialist, Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), one in ten women in the world is diagnosed with endometriosis, a chronic disease associated with severe, life-impacting pain during periods, sexual intercourse, bowel movements and/or urination, chronic pelvic pain, abdominal bloating, nausea, fatigue, and sometimes depression, anxiety, and infertility.
The introduction of robotic-assisted surgery marks a significant advancement in the treatment of endometriosis, providing precise and minimally invasive surgical solutions across diverse medical specialities, including those with endometriosis.
Comparison between laparotomy and robotic-assisted endometriosis surgery
“Traditional surgical interventions have been the go-to method for many surgeries. Although effective to a certain level, they do carry notable drawbacks, including prolonged recovery times and the surgery itself is quite complex,” explains Dr Thow.
In traditional laparotomy (open surgery) for endometriosis, due to angle and vision limitation, surgeons usually have difficulty to complete excise endometriotic lesions. “In my experience, 90% of endometriotic lesions occur at the back of the uterus, which is challenging for surgeons to identify if performing conventional laparotomy. However, robotic-assisted surgery offers enhanced visual support (such as multiple-angle, higher quality vision) allowing surgeons to better identify lesions that may be hidden from direct sight and go unnoticed. Consequently, robotic surgeries emerge as viable options for minimally invasive procedures, particularly for addressing more complex and challenging cases of endometriosis. Overall, they offer more hope for improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life for women battling the condition,” Dr Thow added.
Furthermore, a shorter recovery period, reduced complications, and minimal scarring with less pain and blood loss make robotic-assisted surgery an appealing treatment option for endometriosis patients, especially in cases involving complex and hidden lesions. It also enables patients to get back to their normal lifestyle sooner. “We have many patients plagued by severe dysmenorrhea due to endometriosis. However, after robotic-assisted surgery, almost all experienced complete symptom relief,” shared Dr Thow.
One of the most compelling advantages of robotic-assisted surgery is its potential to preserve fertility.“ Endometriosis can severely impair reproductive organs such as the fallopian tube function, diminish ovarian reserve, and create a hostile environment for fertilisation and implantation, but robotic surgery can treat the disease while preserving the function of these organs, thus improving fertility outcome,” he added.
Determining candidacy for robotic-assisted surgery is a meticulous process. While any patient may be considered, Dr Thow emphasises its suitability for robotic surgery applies to cases of endometriosis that conventionally necessitate open surgery, such as deep infiltrating endometriosis, a severe form of endometriosis involves deep growth of endometrial-like tissue into pelvic structures, causing severe pain and other complications or large benign tumours, non-cancerous growths that can occur in various body parts, potentially causing symptoms due to their size and location.
The future of robotic-assisted surgery
Looking ahead, Dr Thow foresees a surge in robotic surgeries across Malaysia, particularly for challenging conditions like endometriosis. He also said despite the learning curve, newer surgeons are being trained to adopt the use of robotics in surgeries, further instilling the expertise needed to operate these innovative solutions.
Due to its precision and minimally invasive nature, robotic surgery may become the preferred choice for more complex treatments. Although there is rarely a misconception surrounding embracing robotic-assisted surgery, its cost could potentially be higher compared to traditional methods.
Dr Thow said: “While the accessibility of robotic-assisted surgery is limited at the present moment, I predict that robotics will play a larger role in surgery in addition to taking on a supportive role as it has potential to provide more precise insertions, shortening operating time and mitigating potential complications. In some cases too, our patients feel more reassured when robotics are involved in their procedure, especially for more complex ones. Ultimately, the decision to opt for robotic or traditional surgery will be made collaboratively between the patient and doctor, considering all available options and individual circumstances.”
With all these in mind, Dr Thow also opines that with more adoption of innovative technologies within surgical procedures, healthcare professionals can be better equipped to undertake and manage more complicated cases, providing care for more patients long-term.
As one of the largest quaternary private hospitals in Malaysia, Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City (SMC) is home to some of the most state-of-the-art robotic surgical systems in the market through its Robotics Surgery and MIS Centre of Excellence for various health concerns, including women’s health. SMC has also recently been named in the top 250 hospitals globally in Newsweek World’s Best Hospitals 2024 rankings earlier this year, setting the benchmark for hospitals around the world in areas of clinical excellence, research and innovation.
Category: Technology & Devices
