OB-GYN Minimally Invasive Surgery

Advanced Procedures for Faster Recovery

Cooper offers minimally invasive gynecological procedures—from medical therapies to advanced surgical techniques—to diagnose and treat benign and malignant conditions and allow for faster recovery with less pain. 

Through minimally invasive gynecological procedures using vaginal, laparoscopic, and robotic techniques, our expert surgeons treat a variety of gynecologic conditions. Our multidisciplinary team provides compassionate and comprehensive care to their patients, tailoring the latest techniques and treatments to the unique needs of each woman to alleviate her symptoms and improve her quality of life.

The Need for Gynecological Surgery

Using advanced techniques, Cooper’s experienced surgeons in these specialties can diagnose and/or treat patients without performing a major incision during surgery. In implementing laparoscopic and robotic techniques, surgeons can treat a variety of gynecologic conditions, including:

  • Cancer
  • Pelvic pain
  • Endometriosis
  • Mullerian system anomalies and variants
  • Pelvic and abdominal adhesions
  • Symptomatic fibroids, even if very large, which cause pain and bleeding
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Pelvic floor prolapse
  • Bladder and bowel incontinence associated with prolapse
  • Infertility surgery

What is minimally invasive surgery?

Traditional open surgery, using a large incision for access to the uterus and surrounding anatomy, has been the standard approach to many procedures in the field of OB-GYN for many years. However, open surgery often results in significant postoperative pain, trauma to surrounding tissue, a long recovery process in the hospital and at home.

For simple or complex hysterectomies and other gynecologic procedures, robot-assisted surgery with the da Vinci® Surgical System can be the most effective, least-invasive treatment option. Through tiny, 1 cm incisions, surgeons using the da Vinci System can operate with greater precision and control, minimizing blood loss and decreasing the pain and risk associated with large incisions while increasing the likelihood of a fast recovery and excellent clinical outcomes.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of the da Vinci Surgical System in 2000. While the system includes state-of-the-art features like magnified vision systems and robotic arms with greater range of motion than the human hand, the system is at times more complex than other forms of minimally invasive surgery. The da Vinci® system includes a console for the surgeon to perform a procedure, a patient cart with long mechanical arms and surgical instruments, and hardware and software components and other materials needed for a given procedure.

At Cooper, surgeons have been successfully using the da Vinci® system even for patients with indications that once necessitated an “open” procedure, such as:

  • Multiple prior surgeries
  • High body mass index
  • Obesity
  • Large fibroids
  • Known severe adhesive disease
  • Extensive endometriosis
  • Gynecologic oncology surgery

Benefits of Surgery Using the da Vinci® Surgical System

The da Vinci® Surgical System – a laparoscopic surgical robot that combines computer technology and the surgeon’s skill – provides patients with an excellent alternative to traditional open surgery. The da Vinci® System enables surgeons to perform even the most complex and delicate procedures through very small incisions with unmatched precision.

For the patient, benefits can include: 

  • Significantly less post-operative pain
  • Less scarring
  • Minimal blood loss and tissue damage
  • Decreased length of stay, usually one day; occasionally two days
  • Faster recovery at home
  • Better clinical outcomes

Procedures and Conditions They Treat

Cooper’s experienced surgeons are at the forefront of using new minimally invasive surgical techniques for cervical, ovarian, endometrial, and uterine cancers. Procedures performed include total laparoscopic hysterectomy, lymph node dissection, oophorectomy, and ovarian cystectomy.

Hysteroscopy

A hysteroscopy involves using a thin, lighted tube inserted through the vagina and into the uterus. The procedure is used to determine the source of abnormal vaginal bleeding and is also used to remove fibroids and polyps or to take a tissue sample for biopsy.    

Laparoscopy

A laparoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure in which a surgeon makes a small incision in the abdomen to allow a small lighted instrument to be inserted. The procedure allows a doctor to observe the reproductive organs and is used to diagnose endometriosis, ectopic pregnancies, and ovarian cysts and to detect adhesions and scar tissue that can be removed.

Hysterectomy

A hysterectomy involves the removal of part or all of the uterus and may be performed vaginally, abdominally, or through a minimally invasive procedure like laparoscopy. Depending on the condition being treated, the cervix may be removed as well. A hysterectomy may be performed to treat a number of conditions, including uterine fibroids, abnormal vaginal bleeding, endometriosis, a thickening of the uterus (adenomyosis), and cancer.

Myomectomy

Noncancerous fibroids in the uterus may be removed by a procedure called myomectomy. Patients who have uterine fibroids may choose to have a myomectomy rather than a hysterectomy if they plan to have children in the future.

Oophorectomy

During an oophorectomy, one or both ovaries are removed. If both ovaries are removed, the procedure will lead to the immediate onset of menopause. The procedure can be performed vaginally, abdominally, or laparoscopically and may be performed to treat several conditions, including endometriosis, ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovary torsion (or twisting), and cancer. An oophorectomy is also a preventative surgery for certain patients who are at a higher risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer.

Ovarian Cystectomy

This procedure involves removing a cysts (or multiple cysts) from the ovaries. Most ovarian cysts are able to be removed through a minimally invasive surgical procedure like laparoscopy, although larger cysts may require more extensive surgery through the abdomen. An ovarian cystectomy is performed if a cyst is causing problems because of its size, ruptures or bleeds, grows after the onset of menopause, or is cancerous.

Excision of Endometriosis

An excision for endometriosis is a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure that involves removing part of the affected tissue while preserving the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. 

Additional Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgical Procedure

Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery
Cooper’s expert surgeons use minimally invasive approaches including vaginal, laparoscopic and robotic gynecologic surgery to treat bladder and pelvic floor disorders, including incontinence, and cervical, uterine, rectal and vaginal prolapse.

Gynecologic Oncology
Cooper’s experienced surgeons are at the forefront of using new minimally invasive surgical techniques for cervical, ovarian, endometrial and uterine cancers. Procedures performed include total laparoscopic hysterectomy, lymph node dissection, oophorectomy and ovarian cystectomy.

Infertility Surgery
Cooper’s expert gynecologic surgeons are adept at both laparoscopic and hysteroscopic infertility procedures, including intrauterine lysis of adhesions and laparoscopic salpingiolysis.

Specialties Within OB-GYN

  • Benign Gynecology – From simple to complex gynecologic procedures, Cooper gynecologists offer the most advanced surgical treatment options when surgery is deemed necessary.  If a gynecologic problem requires advanced treatment, our gynecologists and subspecialists work together to provide seamless care 
  • Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology – Cooper has physicians who specialize in providing sensitive and age-appropriate subspecialty gynecologic care to children and teenagers
  • Gynecological Cancer Center – Part of MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, the center provides comprehensive care to women with cancer and precancerous diseases of the ovaries, uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, vulva, and vagina. The center is the largest and most experienced gynecological cancer treatment program in South Jersey.   
  • Urogynecology – Cooper’s experts provide state-of-the-art diagnostic services and a full range of the latest treatment approaches for urinary, pelvic and voiding disorders
  • Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility – With decades of experience, Cooper’s experts are highly successful in treating all types of infertility issues. The Cooper Institute for Reproductive Hormonal Disorders performs more than 500 in vitro egg retrievals every year and is one of the largest IVF programs in the US.
  • Maternal/Fetal Medicine – Our highly trained, expert physicians provide a complete range of services for mothers and babies with high-risk and low-risk conditions.
  • Family Planning Clinic – Taking a patient-centered approach, Cooper’s experts offer compassionate family planning and sexual reproductive health care services.

FAQs

Most of the frequently asked questions about minimally invasive gynecologic surgery: 

  • What is gynecologic surgery?
    • Gynecologic surgery involves procedures on the female reproductive system. This type of surgery may be required for an array of conditions, include infertility, non-cancerous conditions, cancer and incontinence problems.
  • What are the types of gynecologic surgery available?
    • Gynecologic surgery may include common procedures like colposcopy, hysteroscopy, pelvic laparoscopy, cystectomy and cervical cryosurgery.
  • What are the advantages of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery?
    • Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery have several potential benefits, including smaller incisions (and therefore less scarring), faster recovery time and less pain.

Schedule an Appointment Today

To schedule an appointment call 800.8.COOPER (800.826.6737), or use our request an appointment form to schedule online.