Life-Changing Surgery
Saturday, March 1st, 2014 | Uncategorized | No Comments
The Scarless Hysterectomy
For the thousands of women who face a hysterectomy each year, the thought of being left with a big abdominal scar and spending weeks out of work is daunting. That’s just how Susan Walker felt. Reluctant at first to share such a personal story, Susan decided it was important to share information that could help other women who might be suffering.
Susan, a mother and legal assistant for a busy law practice, was experiencing such dramatic gynecologic symptoms that it was interfering with her daily life. She suffered with heavy periods almost every two weeks and was frustrated and exhausted.
Susan knew a hysterectomy would most likely take her out of commission for weeks. That is, until she heard about Dr. Michael Fields, an OB/GYN at Turkey Creek Medical Center, who friends told her was one of several surgeons performing a minimally invasive procedure using the da Vinci® Robotic Surgical System. Little did she know she would become a part of history.
Robotic surgery has proven to be an effective and minimally invasive alternative to traditional gynecologic surgery. The da Vinci robot, in the hands of skilled surgeons, can be used to perform a variety of surgical procedures, including hysterectomies, treatment of endometriosis and pelvic pain, and non-gynecologic surgeries such as prostate, bariatrics, colorectal, thoracic, ear, nose and throat, and general surgeries including single site gall bladder removal.
However, for Susan, Dr. Fields had something else in mind. As one of only 24 Epicenter Surgeons in the country, he’s performed more than 1,000 surgeries using the robot and is continually leading the way in developing new ideas to make surgery less invasive. His plan for Susan – a hysterectomy using just one single incision inside the belly button, leaving no visible scar. Period.
“I wasn’t aware that this procedure even existed,” said Susan. “I was going to be fine with an alternate procedure; however, I am so glad he selected me for this new technique.”
Susan became the first patient in Tennessee to undergo a single-site “belly button” hysterectomy. One small incision is made inside the naval where surgery is then done to detach the uterus. The uterus is then removed vaginally. Once removed, the incision is closed using dissolvable stitches.
“I didn’t even feel like I’d had surgery,” said Susan.
Back at work in a little over two weeks, Susan is still feeling great.
“I walked out of the hospital with no overnight stay, and within three days I was feeling good,” she said. “It was a phenomenal recovery. I would recommend this procedure, Dr. Fields, and Turkey Creek Medical Center to any woman who is considering a hysterectomy. Anyone can find a week or two out of their busy schedules to do something that will completely improve their quality of life.”
Tennova Healthcare
Turkey Creek Medical Center
10820 Parkside Drive
Knoxville, TN 37934
(865) 218-7011
855-TENNOVA toll-free
www.tennova.com
www.tennovarobotics.com
