Robotic Surgery Complications Trump Benefits

It’s important to know all of the facts about robotic surgery complications that can arise in treating GYN conditions. Robotic surgery requires patients to take off more time for recovery, and it creates more pain due to larger and more incisions than standard laparoscopic surgery or DualPortGYN procedures. When using a Robot to perform delicate GYN surgeries, there is a higher risk of complications compared to a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure, like the DualPortGYN approach, one of the most minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures available, with the fastest recovery time.

Robotic GYN surgery has a higher risk of complications than CIGC procedures performed with DualPortGYN.

The DualPortGYN approach developed by Paul MacKoul, MD, allows the surgeon to see the entire anatomy surrounding the uterus and ovaries, providing a more precise procedure, minimizing complications. Robotic surgery increases the risk of damage to surrounding areas, including nicks to the bowel and the ureter, requiring additional surgery to correct.

If your OB/GYN intends to use a robot for your procedure, ask him or her “Why?”

• The American Congress of OB/GYN (ACOG), the premier society in Obstetrics and Gynecology, has issued a statement to OB/GYN’s that they should be using other types of procedures such as standard laparoscopy instead of robotics.
• The American Association of GYN Laparoscopic Surgeons (AAGL), the largest and most well regarded society for minimally invasive GYN surgery worldwide, has also issued statements that robotic surgery should not be used if standard laparoscopy and vaginal hysterectomy are available.
• Many articles have been written in “peer reviewed journals” including the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and others clearly showing that robotics is not a better approach than standard laparoscopy.

As a patient, be your own best advocate. Ask many questions of your OB/GYN. If your doctor still intends to use the robot for your surgery, seek a second opinion and get more information on standard laparoscopy or DualPortGYN approaches as better options for your procedure. Robotic surgery complications outweigh the benefits.