Current status on robotic assisted myomectomy

Abstract

Uterine leiomyomas are common benign solid tumors of the uterus. While the presence of fibroids is rarely life threatening, they are associated with symptoms affecting quality of life and fertility. Myomectomy is a standard fertility-sparing surgery which should be considered for women suffering from fibroid-related symptoms who do not desire hysterectomy or any alternative treatment option. While open surgery is thought to be reserved for large and numerous myomas, mini-invasive methods as laparoscopy and robot-assisted surgery have evolved in the hands of experienced surgeons to also deal with these more complex cases. Robotic myomectomy has its advantages in lower blood loss, fewer complications, and shorter hospital stay over open surgery, whereas the comparison outcomes with laparoscopic myomectomy are still uncertain. Advantages of the wristed instruments, three-dimensional vision along with the incorporation of correct surgical techniques could emphasize the benefits of the robotic assisted approach in large and numerous myoma cases. Careful and detailed assessment should precede the surgery to recognize risks and steps to reduce operation time, which tends to be the most presented drawback of robotic myomectomy. As the tendency of robot-assisted surgeries is growing, many authors share their experience or publish comparison studies with other surgical methods. Our article describes the current status concerning robotic myomectomy, reviewing publications from the past five years (2016-2021).

Keywords

Robotic surgery / robotic myomectomy / robot-assisted myomectomy / surgical techniques

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