Back in the day, a hysterectomy patient could be virtually guaranteed she would be hospitalized for several days, and out of commission and in pain for several weeks.
Drs. Michella Switzer, left, and Maxine Lingurar are now using new, state-of-the-art equipment for minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. The doctors are partners at Central Kansas Women’s Health Center, which is owned by Central Kansas Medical Center.
But it is a new day.
Maxine Lingurar, M.D., and Michella Switzer, D.O., are now using new, state-of-the-art laparoscopic equipment that offers a range of options for minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.
Dr. Lingurar and Dr. Switzer are partners in the Central Kansas Women’s Health Center, 3520 Lakin, which is owned by Central Kansas Medical Center.
“We now can offer women a variety of options for hysterectomies, particularly laparoscopic total hysterectomy,” Dr. Lingurar said. “The main advantage of this procedure is that the patient has only small abdominal incisions.
“It also allows our patients to return to the normal activities of daily living much more quickly than after an abdominal hysterectomy,” Dr. Lingurar added. “This is the wave of the future for hysterectomies.”
In addition, the new electro-surgical equipment may also be used for vaginal hysterectomies, laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomies, laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomies and total laparoscopic hysterectomies.
“In some cases, however, a total abdominal hysterectomy may be required,” Dr. Lingurar noted. “Each case is different and we counsel our patients on all their options.”
A laparoscope is a slender, fiber-optic tube equipped with a miniature camera, lights and surgical instruments. Surgeons have the ability to see inside the abdomen and have technical access to the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes. Only small incisions are made.
“Hysterectomy is one of the most common operations performed,” Dr. Switzer commented. “Most are performed for problematic uterine bleeding.
“We counsel our patients on a range of options to manage this bleeding,” Switzer continued. “But for those women who choose hysterectomy, candidates for laparoscopic procedures have considerably less discomfort, a much shorter recovery period and a decreased risk of surgical infection.”
There are a number of non-surgical management options, including medication. And, Dr. Switzer said, laparoscopic procedures are not for everyone.
Dr. Lingurar noted that she recently participated in an “intensive course” in total laparoscopic hysterectomy to further her education.
She also pointed out that the equipment was put in CKMC’s capital budget more than a year ago. |
