More practitioners 'embracing robotic gynaecology'

More obstetrics and gynaecology practitioners in the US are conducting minimally-invasive surgery aided by robotic technology, it has been reported.

According to the FIGO-affiliated American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, hysterectomies, myomectomies, vaginal prolapse repair, cancer removal, and other gynaecologic procedures are being carried out in this way.

It claims that robotic surgery, when used appropriately, benefits both physicians and patients because it reduces blood loss, is less invasive and shortens hospital stays.

Patient recovery times are also said to be shorter compared with traditional surgery.

Dr Arnold Advincula, of the University of Michigan, US, and Dr Javier Magrina, from the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, say robotic surgery has become "quite common" over the last five years.

The first European Symposium in Robotic Gynaecological Surgery, organised by the newly-established Society of European Robotic Gynaecological Surgery, is to be held in Milan, Italy, between September 16th and 19th 2009.

According to the society, robotic-assisted laparoscopy "is becoming a worldwide reality, enabling a minimally-invasive approach to both simple and complex procedures across a number of surgical subspecialties".