Dale Bradley

When Dale Bradley scheduled her gynecological surgery, the decision was a relief. She had been suffering with the effects of multiple fibroid tumors in her uterus for many years. The condition caused extreme fatigue, anemia and constant bloating, “sort of like having permanent PMS.”

Having seen her mother deal with radical surgery for the same problem, Bradley was determined to delay surgery as long as possible, hoping better treatments would emerge. Her hopes were answered with the development of laparoscopic surgery and its application to gynecological needs. When the technology advanced further to robotic laparoscopy, she was more than ready. After meeting with several doctors, she selected gynecologist Caroline Filor, MD, for her expertise in these types of procedures, as well as her “wonderful, warm manner.”

Bradley, a principal at Southern Westchester BOCES, had thoroughly researched the procedure, but she was still amazed at her speed of recovery. “The difference between my results and my mother’s were like night and day. I had very little bleeding, and never even needed pain medication. In two weeks I was back at work, climbing three flights of stairs to the classrooms!”

Enhancing the Surgeon’s Skill
“The advantages of laparoscopic surgery are significant,” says Dr. Filor. The minimally invasive approach uses tiny incisions that result in less bleeding, less scar tissue, and dramatically shorter recovery times.

“Our advanced robotic system allows us to do more procedures using laparoscopy,” she explains. “Now we can address bigger, more complicated surgeries in a minimally invasive way. Robotic technology lets us operate as if we are performing traditional open surgery, with the same hand movements and accuracy that are translated into laparoscopic scale. It’s still all about the surgeon’s skill, but very much advanced by these leading edge tools.”

The Fertility Factor
“Anyone who is a candidate for the laparoscopic approach is also a candidate for robotic surgery,” notes Dr. Filor. It is currently being used for hysterectomy, ovarian cancer, endometriosis and myomectomy (the removal of fibroids). Procedures are also being developed to address prolapse, a condition where pelvic organs descend due to loss of elasticity in the vaginal wall.

For women of childbearing age, these minimally invasive technologies can help surgeons save the uterus. “In myomectomy,” says Dr. Filor, “we can remove the fibroid and decrease adhesions, so there’s less impact on fertility.”

The Greenwich Hospital Advantage
“There’s strong continuity in the hospital operating room,” says Dr. Bruce Molinelli, medical director of robotic surgery. “We have great consistency with our OR staff so excellent teamwork develops among the surgeons, anesthesiologist, nurses and assistants. The hospital is also committed to providing the best technology and continually upgrades the equipment.”

Interaction among specialists using robotics is also an advantage, adding to the shared expertise.

It’s All About the Patient
As Dr. Molinelli points out, “Laparoscopic surgery is not new. We’ve been performing these procedures since the 1980s. And we’ve been using robotic technology – the da Vinci® Surgical System – since 2007. Now, as advances in technology offer more possibilities for minimally invasive surgeries, our surgical team continues to be in the vanguard.”

As with everything else at Greenwich Hospital, the bottom line is patient satisfaction. And that, says Dr. Filor, is extremely high. “It’s a world of difference in comfort and recovery. In fact, most of our robotic laparoscopic patients can go home within 24 hours.”

As for Dale Bradley, she went into her surgery feeling confident, even excited – and came out feeling “extremely well taken care of by Greenwich Hospital.”