Best in Care - Special Women’s Issue - (Page 3)

Not Your Grandmother’s Hysterectomy One out of three women in the U.S. by age 60 will experience symptoms that require a hysterectomy. In the past, the surgery kept women off their feet for months at a time. Today, several options reduce recovery time. Surgeons at Florida Hospital are using a minimally invasive procedure that is less invasive than traditional open procedures. By going either through the vagina or through small incisions in the abdomen, there is less postoperative pain and quicker recovery. Few procedures affect a woman’s life as significantly as a hysterectomy. For that reason, it is crucial to talk to your physician about all your options. Little ThingsBig Difference Make a Less-invasive procedures mean more benefits Remember when computers were so big they occupied entire buildings? Now, they are small enough to fit in a manila envelope. Technology is changing before our eyes, Steven McCarus, MD and just as computers have changed and revolutionized our lives, so has medicine. Today’s surgeons are highly specialized and have far better tools, such as robotics and lasers. New technology and less-invasive approaches now allow same-day or overnight stays compared with weeks of recovery. And, just as computers have shrunk in size, so have surgical scars. In fact, most patients have no scarring and less pain. Florida Hospital gynecologist Steven McCarus, MD, answers common questions about minimally invasive surgery. Q Q Q Q What is minimally invasive surgery? Dr. McCarus: Minimally invasive surgery refers to procedures that use small incisions and little or no cutting of muscle. It gets the job done on the “inside” with a less-invasive approach and quicker recovery times. How is it done? Dr. McCarus: Newly developed state-of-the-art surgical tools and scopes, or small cameras, allow surgeons to see deep inside the body. What are the benefits? Dr. McCarus: For patients, these innovative approaches translate into a lower risk of infection, faster recovery, and less scarring and pain than traditional open surgeries. These techniques are challenging the standard of care for many conditions and should always be considered. What is minimally invasive surgery common for? Dr. McCarus: One of the major areas we have seen minimally invasive surgery impact is with hysterectomies. This is no longer the same hysterectomy that your grandmother had. In the past, a woman would feel better after about two months. Today, with minimally invasive hysterectomy, my patients feel better after one week or less. For more information or to schedule an appointment with a physician specializing in minimally invasive hysterectomies, call 407-303-1700. floridahospital.com I 3 explorIng optIons http://floridahospital.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Best in Care - Spring 2008

Best in Care - Spring 2008 Contents The Doctor Becomes the Patient Stop the Monthly Suffering Major Surgery. Minor Scar. A Healthier Weight Expect More When Expecting

Best in Care - Spring 2008

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