Sunway city: The introduction of robotic-assisted surgery marks a significant advancement in the treatment of endometriosis, a chronic disease affecting one in ten women globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Endometriosis is often associated with severe, life-impacting pain during menstruation, sexual intercourse, bowel movements, and urination, along with chronic pelvic pain, abdominal bloating, nausea, fatigue, and sometimes depression, anxiety, and infertility.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Obstetrician, Gynaecologist, and Fertility Specialist at Sunway Medical Centre (SMC), Sunway City, Dr. Thow Sun Ta, stated that robotic-assisted surgery provides precise and minimally invasive surgical solutions across various medical specialties, including those with endometriosis. He explained that traditional surgical interventions have been the go-to method for many surgeries. Although effective to a certain level, they carry notable drawbacks, including prolonged recovery times, and the surgery itself is complex.
Dr. Thow highlighted the challenges faced in traditional laparotomy (open surgery) for endometriosis. Due to angle and vision limitations, surgeons often find it difficult to complete the excision of endometriotic lesions. He noted that 90 percent of endometriotic lesions occur at the back of the uterus, making them challenging to identify using conventional laparotomy. However, robotic-assisted surgery offers enhanced visual support such as multiple-angle, higher quality vision, allowing surgeons to better identify lesions that may be hidden from direct sight and go unnoticed.
Furthermore, Dr. Thow emphasized that a shorter recovery period, reduced complications, and minimal scarring with less pain and blood loss make robotic-assisted surgery an appealing treatment option for endometriosis patients, especially in cases involving complex and hidden lesions. This enables patients to return to their normal lifestyle sooner. He mentioned that many patients plagued by severe dysmenorrhea (pain associated with menstruation) experience complete symptom relief after undergoing robotic-assisted surgery.
Dr. Thow pointed out that one of the most compelling advantages of robotic-assisted surgery is its potential to preserve fertility. Endometriosis can severely damage reproductive organs, impairing fallopian tube function, reducing ovarian reserve, and creating a hostile environment for fertilization and implantation. While any patient may be considered for robotic-assisted surgery, it is particularly applicable to cases of endometriosis that conventionally necessitate open surgery, such as deep infiltrating endometriosis and large benign tumors.
Looking ahead, Dr. Thow anticipated a surge in robotic surgeries across Malaysia, particularly for challenging conditions like endometriosis. Despite the learning curve, newer surgeons are being trained to adopt the use of robotics in surgeries, further instilling the expertise needed to operate these innovative solutions. While the accessibility of robotic-assisted surgery is limited at the present moment, Dr. Thow predicted that robotics will play a larger role in surgery, providing more precise insertions, shortening operating time, and mitigating potential complications.
Dr. Thow also noted that with more adoption of innovative technologies within surgical procedures, healthcare professionals can be better equipped to manage more complicated cases, providing care for more patients long-term. As one of the largest quaternary private hospitals in Malaysia, SMC houses some of the most state-of-the-art robotic surgical systems in the market through its Robotics Surgery and MIS Centre of Excellence for various health concerns, including women's health.