Discomfort Gone After Robotic Hysterectomy at Silver Cross

For three years, New Lenox resident Nadine Lawson hoped her uterine fibroid would shrink and disappear. Instead, she felt bloated and uncomfortable for years as the mass grew larger pressing on her bladder requiring her to constantly urinate.

Since the fibroid enlarged, the 49-year-old was unable to have her annual gynecological exam completed. On the recommendation from her urogynecologist, Dr. Nahla Merhi, Lawson had a Single-Site™ robotic hysterectomy at the Midwest Institute of Robotic Surgery at Silver Cross Hospital.

Silver Cross was one of the first hospitals in the Midwest where skilled surgeons use the robotic surgical system to perform hysterectomies through a single incision with virtually scarless results.

“Dr. Merhi was wonderful while she guided me to choose robotic surgery and throughout my entire recovery,” said Lawson. “As a result of her expertise and the thoughtful care I received from the nurses at Silver Cross, I was up and walking around hours after surgery. I even went home the same day. I only wish I didn’t wait so long to have the surgery because I could have avoided being in such discomfort for so many years.”

Lawson’s case proved to be unusual since Dr. Merhi discovered something unexpected during surgery. “Nadine’s fibroid was actually two large fibroids joined together, said Nahla Merhi, M.D., who is Co-Director of the Center of Excellence for Minimally Invasive Gynecology at Silver Cross Hospital. “Even when her case became more complicated by having to remove two large masses, the enhanced vision, precision, and dexterity that is gained by using the robot, enabled me to perform a successful surgery.”

Benefits to Single-Site™ Hysterectomy

“During a Single-Site™ robotic hysterectomy just one single incision is made through the belly button, so patients, like Nadine, can get back to life faster without the usual recovery following major surgery,” said Dr. Merhi, who has performed more than 500 robotic surgeries and more than 200 single site robotic cases.

“In addition, there are many potential benefits over traditional open surgery, including minimal blood loss, less scarring, shorter hospital stay, low risk of complications, and a faster recovery.”

How Does it Work?

During the procedure, the surgeon sits comfortably at a console, viewing a 3D, high-definition image of the patient’s anatomy. The surgeon uses controls below the viewer to move the instrument arms and camera. In real-time, the system translates the surgeon's hand, wrist and finger movements into more precise movements of the miniaturized instruments inside the patient.

Unlike traditional robotic surgeries requiring three to five small incisions, this new technology allows for a single incision in the belly button. Here, instruments are placed to treat chronic pain, heavy bleeding, non-cancerous fibroids, endometriosis, and prolapse by surgically removing the uterus, know as a hysterectomy.

Many women who require a hysterectomy are candidates for the robotic, single-incision surgery. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, hysterectomy is the second most common surgical procedure for women in the United States, and an estimated one-third of all women will have a hysterectomy by age 60.

Free Lecture - Girl Talk: Pelvic Pain

Join Dr. Nahla Merhi, urogynecologist, on Thursday, October 13from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Silver Cross Hospital, Pavilion A, Conference Center, 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox. Dr. Merhi will discuss treatment options including Single-Site® Hysterectomy to treat the many causes of pelvic pain such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and pelvic prolapse. Register to attend at midwestroboticsurgery.org.

About Nahla Merhi, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.

Dr. Nahla Merhi, board certified in obstetrics/gynecology and urogynecology, completed her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at Lutheran Medical Central in New York. Dr. Merhi has special interest in treating urinary incontinence and pelvic prolapse as well as training in using the surgical robot systems to provide patients quicker and less invasive procedures. She has been treating urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse for more than 12 years. She has performed more than 500 robotic surgeries and more than 200 single site robotic cases. Dr. Merhi has also served as a mentor for robotic surgery, where gynecologists from all over the nation have flown to Silver Cross Hospital to watch her perform robotic surgeries. In addition, she has presented at national and international conferences on robotic gynecologic surgeries at the Australasian Gynecologic & Endoscopic Surgery AGES meeting in Australia in March 2016 and the AIMIS meeting in Atlanta in April 2016. To schedule an appointment, call her office at Suburban Gynecology at (815) 717-8727, located at Silver Cross Hospital Pavilion A, Suite 375, 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox.