Being pregnant, giving birth, treating uterine fibroids, and undergoing a hysterectomy are all part of women’s health. Olympia Obstetrics & Gynecology (Olympia OBGYN) is with you all the way. The team of medical doctors (MD), certified nurse midwives (CNM) and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNP) are eager to help you and your body throughout life’s changes. When issues arise that call for surgery, you are literally in good hands.
Robotic Surgery for Women Advances Care Options
Robotic applications are now considered one of the mainstream approaches. A robot is not doing your surgery – the machine is a tool for the surgeon. Dr. Darrel Bell, one of the physicians and partners at Olympia OBGYN works from a console barely six feet away from his patient. Bell uses his eyes, arms, hands and feet to operate the technology that has lights, cameras and surgical instruments. It’s a bit like piloting a plane, requiring practice, skill and education. “Coordinating muscle memory takes place with time,” adds Bell, who has been performing robotic assisted surgery since 2015
The early incarnations of robotic surgery were created to treat traumatic injuries on the battlefield while doctors were safely away from the front. While it is possible to do surgery over a long distance, more effective strategies prevailed on the battlefield. However, research and development continued to give us what is today an amazing tool which increases a surgeon’s dexterity and visualization.
“There has been gradual adoption with more and more surgeons doing it,” says Bell. Initially, there were many skeptics, but time and experience changed minds. In fact, some long-time surgeons were reinvigorated by using the new technology. “Now it’s a normal part of medical care,” he says. As more companies are building machines for surgery, there is hope that overall costs will be reduced.
Minimally invasive surgery, such as robotic surgery, uses smaller incisions, which facilitates a faster recovery. That can mean less hospital time, less time away from work and reduced loss of wages. More traditional hysterectomies require a three-to-six-inch incision and four to six weeks of discomfort. Laparoscopic surgery obtains the same goal, but robotics adds another level of sophistication for those complicated cases.
3D imaging gives a surgeon better information. The tremor filter allows for impeccable precision. The arms of the robotics can articulate as well or better than the human wrist. “The robot allows me to see blood vessels that I might not otherwise see before I cut them,” says Bell, “that’s remarkable.”
Olympia OBGYN Offers Precise Robotic Technology for Women’s Surgeries
Performing surgery with robotic assistance is an excellent option for some women’s health issues. It is used for certain hysterectomies, surgery on the ovaries and endometriosis. “Robotics provides a delicate touch,” says Bell. “Technology is really helpful.” He does joke that, “There is no hysterectomy button.” The surgeon is still essential for success.
Bell calls to mind the differences between a flip phone and a smart phone regarding texting. The new technology can make surgery easier. I think about the images we first got from the Hubble Telescope and compare them to ones from the James Webb Space Telescope. Pictures from the Hubble were amazing. It’s successor, the Webb, goes beyond what Hubble did. Robotics magnify the anatomy so we can see it better. That’s the beauty of science and technology.
Surgery is serious business. “All surgeries are distinct,” reminds Bell. People are unique, as are their situations. Considerations are based on anatomy and the ultimate goal of the patient and the procedure. It may be to reduce pain, to get back to work or to correct a problem. “Surgeries come with risks and benefits. Robotics are a powerful and precise tool, which allows more women to have a minimally invasive procedure. People do need to understand that even when exterior evidence, such as incision marks, may be very small, there was major activity within the body. Fatigue typically outlasts any pain involved; recovery still takes time.”
Doctors and Midwives Work Together at Olympia OBGYN for the Best Health Care
Olympia OBGYN serves women in our community from their teens to past menopause. The diverse group of providers is able to work with patients individually and as a team, depending on the needs of the patient. The doctors and midwives work together to provide seamless services. Many things such as routine wellness checks and simple problems can be managed by our midwives and nurse practitioners. However, if things get complicated the expertise of a doctor is usually just a few steps down the hall. “It’s elevated care on both sides,” says Bell. “It’s really high quality, unique care.”
Whether it is going through pregnancy or deciding whether surgery is necessary, the providers at Olympia OBGYN are with you to help you.
Call for an appointment at 360.413.8413 or go to the Olympia Obstetrics & Gynecology website for more information.
Olympia Obstetrics & Gynecology
615 Lilly Rd NE # 200, Olympia
360.413.8413
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