Da Vinci Endometriosis
Resection Surgery

What is endometriosis?^3,4

Endometriosis occurs when tissue that’s similar to the uterus lining grows in other places. Like the uterus lining, these tissue patches thicken and break down with your monthly cycle. Because the blood and tissue have no way to leave the body, they can build up and cause irritation, swelling, and scar tissue. Endometriosis tissue may grow near your uterus. When it grows on your ovaries, it can create cysts. It can also appear on your bladder and intestines. In rare cases, endometriosis tissue can grow in distant places in your body.

Common endometriosis symptoms include pelvic pain, sometimes severe, and heavy bleeding during or between periods. Endometriosis can also make it hard to get pregnant.

Relief starts here. Take your life back from endometriosis.

Your health, your choice^1-4

The only way to confirm endometriosis is through surgery that let’s your doctor look inside your abdomen.

There is no cure for endometriosis, but surgery that removes endometriosis patches can provide pain relief. Surgeons can remove endometriosis using a traditional open approach or minimally invasive surgery. Open surgery requires an incision (cut) in your lower abdomen long enough for the surgeon to access the organs and use hand-held instruments. Minimally invasive surgery allows your surgeon to remove endometriosis tissue through a few small cuts. There are two main types of minimally invasive endometriosis resection (removal) surgeries: laparoscopic and da Vinci surgery. A laparoscopic endometriosis removal requires a few small incisions for surgeons to insert a laparoscope (camera) and long-handled tools. In da Vinci endometriosis removal, surgeons remove endometriosis tissue using a robotic system with highly magnified 3DHD vision that delivers a crystal-clear view of tissue. The surgeon guides small instruments through a console.

How the da Vinci system works

Surgeons can perform endometriosis resection surgery using da Vinci technology. During a da Vinci endometriosis resection surgery, your surgeon sits at a console next to you and operates using tiny, fully wristed instruments.

A camera provides highly magnified 3DHD vision that delivers a crystal clear view of tissue. The surgeon guides the instruments from a console. Every hand movement your surgeon makes is translated by the da Vinci system in real time to manipulate the instruments with precision.

It’s important to remember that Intuitive does not provide medical advice. After discussing all options with your doctor, only you and your doctor can determine whether surgery with da Vinci technology is appropriate for your situation. You should always ask your surgeon about his or her training, experience, and patient outcomes.

Patient outcomes with da Vinci endometriosis resection

A review of published studies suggests da Vinci endometriosis resection may offer:

• More accurate visualization of confirmed endometriosis tissue compared to a 2D laparoscope⁵
• Ability for surgeon to complete complex cases^6-7
• Low rate of intraoperative complications⁸
• Low rate of switching to open surgery, which requires a large abdominal incision⁸

There are additional outcomes of surgery that you may want to talk with your doctor about. Please ask him or her about all important outcomes of surgery. All surgery involves risk. You can read more about associated risks of endometriosis resection surgery here.

Additional resources