Robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy: technique and initial experience.

Background: Our study objective was to develop a technique for robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy and to evaluate feasibility of the technology to address the technical limitations of conventional laparoscopy.

Methods: The study design was a case series analysis in a university hospital. Sixteen consecutive patients underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy and were assessed for outcomes.

Preliminary experience with robot-assisted laparoscopic staging of gynecologic malignancies.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of integrating robot-assisted technology in the performance of laparoscopic staging of gynecologic malignancies.

Methods: Seven patients underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic staging procedures for gynecologic cancers. Data were collected and analyzed as a retrospective case series analysis.

Laparoscopic robotic gynecologic surgery.

The first gynecologic procedure performed with a robot was a tubal anastomosis. This was performed in 1998 with the Zeus robot. Over the past several years other gynecologic procedures have been performed with other robots.

Endoscopic management of leiomyomata.

Prior to the advent of modern minimally invasive surgery techniques, the primary surgical management of symptomatic leiomyomata for women desiring future fertility or uterine conservation was through laparotomy. Today, many cases of intramural and subserous leiomyomata are managed with laparoscopic myomectomy and selected cases of submucosal leiomyomata are managed with hysteroscopic myomectomy. The management of leiomyomata endoscopically is one of the more challenging procedures in minimally invasive surgery and requires a skilled surgeon.