Robotic Gynecologic Cancer Surgery

Robotic Gynecologic Cancer Surgery

Gynecologic oncologists at the Orlando Health Cancer Institute have advanced training and experience in specialized robotic-assisted surgery for the treatment of uterine, cervical and ovarian cancer. Our skilled surgeons train physicians from across the country on how to provide safe, leading-edge da Vinci® robotic surgeries.

Robotic-assisted procedures help reduce surgical risks and have a lower risk of bleeding, infection, pain and scarring. You also spend less time in the hospital, and can recover more quickly after surgery.

During a robotic-assisted procedure, your doctor uses a few small incisions in your abdomen to perform surgery. The robotic system gives your doctor detailed, 3D views of your abdomen — a clearer view than with other minimally invasive surgeries. The tiny, specialized tools are also more steady and flexible than the human hand, giving your doctor better control and precision to remove cancer.

Our expert gynecologic oncologists perform a wide range of robotic cancer surgeries, offering you more options for cancer treatment.

Robotic Surgery Overview

In traditional laparoscopic surgery, manual rigid instruments are used to perform the procedure. With the da Vinci® Surgical System, a 3D immersive view of the targeted area on the patient’s body and minimal incisions are used.

When conducting robotic surgery, Orlando Health surgeons are able to perform general surgery with minimally invasive techniques. Coupled with the surgeon’s expertise, the da Vinci® Surgical System mimics the surgeon’s hands movements while simultaneously helping reduce tremors and enabling big movements to be scaled down.

Robotic Hysterectomy for Gynecologic Cancer

A hysterectomy is a common treatment for cancer that affects the uterus or cervix. Depending on your needs, you may have:

• A simple hysterectomy to remove the uterus and cervix.
• A simple hysterectomy plus bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy to remove the uterus, cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes.
• A radical hysterectomy to remove the uterus, cervix and upper vagina.

Your gynecologic oncologist will help determine which surgery is right for you. Recovery from a robotic hysterectomy generally takes about two weeks compared with an open hysterectomy, which can take up to six weeks for recovery.

Robotic Pelvic and Para-aortic Lymph Node Dissection

Your gynecologic oncologist may also need to perform a lymph node dissection to check for cancer cells in the lymph nodes around your groin (between your stomach and thighs). Your doctor may recommend this procedure if you have uterine, ovarian or cervical cancer.

During the procedure, your doctor will remove the lymph nodes closest to your cancer cells. A pathologist will check your lymph nodes for cancer cells, and your doctor will remove any lymph nodes affected by cancer. Recovery from the procedure generally takes a week if the procedure is performed on its own, without a hysterectomy.

Robotic Fertility-Sparing Radical Trachelectomy

A radical trachelectomy is a fertility-sparing surgical approach for women with small, localized cervical cancer. This procedure removes the cervix and surrounding tissue while maintaining the top portion of the uterus. Recovery from the robotic procedure generally takes two weeks, compared with four to six weeks for traditional open surgery.

Robotic Parametrectomy

If you are diagnosed with cervical cancer after a simple hysterectomy, you may need a parametrectomy to remove cancer from the surrounding tissues of the cervix. Recovery from the robotic procedure generally takes one to two weeks, compared with four to six weeks for conventional open surgery.

Robotic Tumor-Reductive Surgery

If you have later-stage ovarian cancer, this surgery allows your gynecologic oncologist to remove as much of your tumor as is safely possible. Your doctor may need to remove tissue from nearby organs, such as the spleen, gallbladder, stomach, bladder or colon. Recovery from the robotic procedure generally takes three to four weeks — half the time of a conventional open surgery.

Robotic Omentectomy

An omentectomy is a procedure to remove the omentum, a thin fold of abdominal tissue around your stomach, large intestine and other abdominal organs.

You may need an omentectomy if you have ovarian cancer that has spread to the omentum. The procedure may also be performed as a preventive measure to reduce the risk of cancer spreading from the ovaries to the stomach and other abdominal organs.

Robotic Surgery Locations

We perform all gynecologic cancer surgeries at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.