Robotic surgery for endometriosis

Our specialist robotic endometriosis team offers top surgical expertise in nerve-sparing and fertility-preserving treatment options for severe infiltrating endometriosis. Our aim is to avoid multiple surgical operations for deep endometriosis and clear the disease in a single surgical procedure, even if the disease affects multiple organs and systems.

In order to achieve this, we use principles of “conservative radicality”, excising the disease in full while minimising damage to the ovarian reserve, other pelvic organs, nerves and blood vessels.

For suspected deep infiltrating endometriosis of the bowel, we offer extensive pre-operative assessment including a special MRI scan to assess the extent of the disease before surgery.

If the diagnosis is confirmed, you’ll be offered a range of treatment options, all of which are performed as robotic keyhole surgery.

Our innovative surgical techniques include stapler discoid bowel resection, which allows us to remove deep infiltrating endometriosis of the bowel without removing the length of the bowel. This results in a lower complication rate, a low recurrence rate and a quicker recovery. We are one of the first specialist units in the UK to offer this technique widely, and our surgical audit data shows excellent results in our patients’ quality of life, pain levels and sexual function.

If bladder endometriosis is confirmed by the MRI, we offer a range of treatment options, all of which are performed as minimal-access robotic operations by our specialist gynaecology and urology robotic surgeons.

While complications from endometriosis surgery are rare, major surgery is never completely risk-free. Possible complications include:

• Bleeding
• Damage to nerves or blood vessels
• Damage to organs like your bladder or intestines
• Infection
• Scar tissue that can cause belly pain or bowel blockages
• Trouble urinating (this is usually short-term)
• Vaginal fistula formation (an abnormal connection that forms between the vagina and bladder or rectum)

Your safety and wellbeing is our number one priority, and our surgical and anaesthetic team are dedicated to making sure your surgery and subsequent recovery are smooth and complication free.