Myomectomy - Fibroid Removal
Myomectomy is a surgical procedure to remove uterine fibroids from the uterus. Fibroids are common noncancerous growths that appear in the uterus, usually during childbearing years, but can occur at any age.
During a myomectomy, the fibroids are taken out and the uterus is closed. Unlike hysterectomy, which removes your entire uterus, myomectomy removes only the fibroids and leaves your uterus intact.
Myomectomy is a surgical procedure to remove uterine fibroids from the uterus. Fibroids are common noncancerous growths that appear in the uterus, usually during childbearing years, but can occur at any age.
During a myomectomy, the fibroids are taken out and the uterus is closed. Unlike hysterectomy, which removes your entire uterus, myomectomy removes only the fibroids and leaves your uterus intact.
What is a Myomectomy?
Dr. Gerry Bustillo is currently the Medical Director of the Minimally Invasive Surgery Program at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center and has over 25 years of experience in all types of gynecologic surgery. In this video, Dr. Bustillo helps answer the most important questions about myomectomy (fibroid removal) surgery:
- what is a myomectomy, or fibroid removal surgery?
- what are the different types of myomectomy surgeries?
- how long is the expected recovery after myomectomy surgery?
- what is important in choosing a myomectomy surgeon?
Myomectomy and Morcellation
On Thursday April 17th, 2014, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) released a warning to stop using the equipment necessary for robotic and laparoscopic myomectomy due to a chance of spreading cancer throughout a womans body. This warning was front page news for many national news outlets.
During laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy, the fibroid is carefully removed from the uterus. Once the fibroid is removed, it must be broken into pieces small enough to be removed through the laparoscopic incisions. The FDA warning is specifically for the 'morcellator', or the device used to break up the fibroid. In some rare cases, when the fibroid is actually a cancer, the morcellator acts to spread the cancer throughout a womens abdomen. Thus, the FDA has instructed doctors to stop using this device immediately. Myomectomy can still be performed, but it must be done with a large enough incision to remove the fibroid in one piece.
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