NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Robotic surgery is changing the lives of some women and helping them get pregnant.
Dr. Roseann Maikis is an obstetrician gynecologist for Tennessee Women's Care in Nashville.
She told News 2 she uses a daVinci robot for several surgeries like hysterectomies and the removal of fibroid tumors.
"The incisions from a traditional surgery [are big] and the recovery time with that is a full six weeks," she explained, adding patients who undergo such surgeries have "very limited activity" during their recovery and are "certainly not back to work in six weeks."
Chase Lesane-Brown had robotic surgery to remove fibroids that were making it difficult for her to conceive.
"The surgery was in November and by March we were pregnant," she exclaimed.
Dr. Maikis added, "For her, I was able to remove her fibroids, and she had several, and suture the uterus back together to where it was strong enough to hold a pregnancy to term."
The traditional method of removing fibroids can cause significant damage to a woman's uterus, which can then make it difficult to get pregnant or carry a pregnancy to full term.
According to Dr. Maikis, "The more we would touch the internal organs, especially the delicate fallopian tubes, the more likely they would be to form scar tissue after the surgery."
The robot's hands, fortunately, are smaller and can navigate parts of the abdomen without damaging organs.
Maikis said the robot can remove fibroids the size of a basketball, yet its tools are delicate enough to skin a grape.
In addition, women who have hysterectomies, endometriosis or fibroid removal surgery using the robot have shorter recovery times and less pain.
For more information about robotic surgery visit DrMaikis.com or call 615-329-7940.
Dr. Roseann Maikis
Chase Lesane-Brown had robotic surgery to remove fibroids that were making it difficult for her to conceive.
