Bluewater Health is celebrating the introduction of an advanced minimally invasive gynaecologic surgery at its Sarnia site.
Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Dr. Stephanie Lammers and Dr. Brittany Hoover successfully performed the hospital's first Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (vNOTES) hysterectomies on two patients on September 19.
The procedure removes the uterus through the vagina using specialized endoscopic instruments.
"It’s incredibly rewarding to bring women in our community access to this next generation of minimally invasive surgery," said Dr. Lammers. "Eligible patients for a vNOTES approach to their hysterectomy experience no visible incisions or scars, minimal pain, and fast recoveries. We are happy that we can be leaders in minimally invasive gynaecologic surgery in Ontario, as one of the first centres to offer this surgical technique in the province."
Bluewater Health is the fourth hospital in Ontario to offer this option to eligible patients on an ongoing basis.
"We were determined to bring this procedure home to Sarnia-Lambton," Dr. Lammers added. "That’s why we travelled to North Carolina for hands-on training with surgeons who are leaders in vNOTES. To now perform these surgeries here, for our own patients, is a milestone we’re proud of."
Unlike traditional abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomies, vNOTES also lowers infection risk and helps shorten hospital stays.
In its news release, the hospital added that vNOTES allows opportunistic removal of the fallopian tubes with ease and optimal visualization.
"This is important because removal during another procedure, such as a benign hysterectomy, decreases the lifetime risk of ovarian cancer. For patients requiring ovary removal, vNOTES makes this feasible in most cases, whereas it was possible in traditional vaginal hysterectomy without laparoscopy less than 50 per cent of the time," the release read.
Dr. Hoover said bringing this new technology to Sarnia is a testament to the ongoing commitment Bluewater Health has to providing high-quality, up-to-date care to the patients of our region.
"This kind of advancement does not happen without the hard work of a dedicated team involving physicians, nursing, and administration, and we are forever grateful for their support," said Hoover.
Lammers said it also provides a unique learning opportunity for those in the hospital, possibly even medical students.
"With patient consent, the medical student can be involved in watching the monitor and seeing the endoscopic portion of the case and get a sense for what vaginal hysterectomy can look like. We also take residents in OBGYN from London and they would get an opportunity as well to see vaginal hysterectomy from a different perspective and to see the endoscopic element brought to vaginal hysterectomy, which I think has great advantages for teaching and learning."
Hoover said over 100 hysterectomies were performed in the last year, most of which took a laparoscopic approach.
