Scripps Health - All News for Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery

Protecting Women’s Health in the 30s, 40s and 50s

2012-04-09T11:36:52-07:00

Women’s bodies are constantly changing. Every decade brings different health needs and considerations. And to complicate matters, many women are busy taking care of their parents, spouses and children, sometimes neglecting their own well-being.

“It’s fascinating what we go through as women,” says Catharine Marshall, MD. “Our immune system has to continuously change and adapt based on our biological clock. But because we are such multi-taskers in our day-to-day lives, we often overlook our own health.”

Staying fit in your 30s

The 30s are typically a great decade for women in terms of health, but the habits developed during this decade can set the tone for the rest of their lives.

“Most women are basically healthy in their 30s,” says Dr. Marshall. “They have the best bone density then, and are not yet dealing with some of the health complications associated with perimenopause and menopause. This is the time to set the pace for health later on.”

Dr. Marshall suggests women protect their health by staying active, developing healthy eating habits and getting plenty of rest, which includes enough restful, restorative sleep. Staying on top of regular exams, including pelvic exams and breast screenings, can also help a woman’s physician identify early signs of disease.

Managing change your 40s

“A lot of women in their 40s will start dealing with abnormally heavy bleeding with their cycle,” says Dr. Marshall. “Most of these bleeding issues are triggered by the roller-coaster of hormone changes that take place in the last 15 years before menopause.”

Women experiencing heavy bleeding may have such conditions as uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous growths in and around the walls of the uterus. For many women, uterine fibroids have no symptoms. For others, they can cause pelvic plain, excessive bleeding and even infertility.

“Fibroids can have a huge impact on a woman’s life,” notes Dr. Marshall. “Not only can they mean taking time off of work, but severe pelvic pain and bleeding can lower the overall quality of life.”

In the past, fibroids could have meant invasive surgery and infertility for many women, but the newest advances in medical care are less invasive and many can spare fertility. Some of these advances include newer medications and minimally invasive surgery performed with a surgical robot. The surgeons can manipulate the robotic arms to remove the fibroid with minimal damage to the surrounding tissue.

“It’s really wonderful in that it helps women have a faster recovery from surgery since the incisions are much smaller,” says Dr. Marshall.

Caring for your heart in your 50s

Heart disease is the number one cause of death among American women, and your risk for heart disease dramatically increases after age 55, according to the American Heart Association, particularly after menopause. Women can also have different symptoms of heart disease than men, making it harder for them to identify in time to get emergency care.

Protecting your heart doesn’t start when your risk increases. It begins in your 20s and 30s, with developing healthy living habits like diet and exercise and not smoking. Continuing to practice these healthy habits throughout life can help reduce some of the risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease.

It’s also important for women in their 50’s to have regular health exams and monitoring some of the key health indicators such as cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose and body mass index. Regular heart exams that check heart rate, pulse, breath, heart sounds, skin color and swelling in the arms or legs can help doctors rule out early signs of heart failure.

Learn more about women’s health

Join Scripps Health physicians and host, Susan Taylor, for a special health symposium for women on living a healthy, empowered life. Register for the Scripps Women’s Expo or call 1-800-SCRIPPS for more information.

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Cancer Journey Helps Scripps Provider Raise Game

2012-04-04T10:52:03-07:00

Bruce Buttermore is no stranger to cancer. As a longtime manager of radiation therapy for Scripps Health, Buttermore has helped provide compassionate care to thousands of cancer patients over the years.

But in July 2010, life took an unexpected turn for Buttermore when the care provider suddenly became the care recipient.

After a routine checkup, Buttermore’s blood test showed an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Such results are common and can be attributed to age, minor infections or even excessive bike riding—a favorite pastime for the Scripps Ranch resident.

So Buttermore didn’t think much about it until the results of a second PSA and then a biopsy confirmed he had prostate cancer.

Even with decades of experience working with cancer patients, Buttermore was overwhelmed with concerns of how this diagnosis would affect him physically and psychologically.

“Would I be able to walk the talk I had been giving others?” Buttermore asked himself.

Buttermore consulted with three different specialists. Each physician outlined the pros and cons of the multiple prostate cancer treatment options available to him: surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, or just wait and watch to see what happens.

Buttermore struggled with his treatment options. But in the end, he opted for surgery with Dr. Carol Salem at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, where he underwent a radical prostatectomy—the surgical removal of his prostate gland.

“Fortunately for Bruce, he was able to undergo a robotic prostatectomy which was much less invasive than a traditional open prostatectomy,” said Dr. Salem. “Because of this technology, Bruce’s scarring was minimal, he experienced less blood loss, and had a faster recovery with minimal side effects.”

The procedure lasted four hours and Buttermore was able to go home the next day.
Now cancer-free and back at work, Buttermore is using his newfound perspective to help others fight cancer. With experience and empathy, he guides patients through the decision-making process and shares the knowledge he has acquired through his own personal journey.

“Getting this diagnosis was a gift. I have a greater appreciation for my life, my family and my friends,” said Buttermore. “Also, I am better equipped to help others get through the emotional ups and downs that they will be facing as they come to grips with the reality of having to deal with a life-changing diagnosis.”

Buttermore and Dr. Salem will be honored during pregame ceremonies April 19 at Petco Park. Scripps has been the official health care provider to the Padres since 1981. To find a Scripps physician, call 1-800-SCRIPPS (800-727-4777).

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla Designated Robotic Surgery Training Center

2011-11-08T16:11:58-08:00

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla has been designated as a training Epicenter for gynecologic robotic surgery by Intuitive Surgical, the manufacturer of the da Vinci Surgical System. Scripps La Jolla is one of only 23 designated training centers in the United States.

Under the leadership of Mel Kurtulus, MD, gynecologic surgeon and training physician for the Gynecologic Robotic Surgery Epicenter at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, surgeons from across the United States will learn surgical techniques using the da Vinci surgical system. Dr. Kurtulus has performed hundreds of robotic surgeries since completing a fellowship program in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery at Stanford University and completing his training on the da Vinci Surgical System at Scripps.

“This designation is recognition of Scripps’ commitment to offering patients a high-quality surgical experience using the most advanced technology available,” said Dr. Kurtulus. “Our extensive experience with the da Vinci Surgical System allows us to train surgeons from around the world through a customized training program that shares our best practices for patient outcomes.”

Selection criteria for the Epicenter designation is based on multiple factors, including a dedicated robotics team and surgeons who demonstrate a mastery of skills through their performance of hundreds of gynecologic robotic surgeries with excellent patient outcomes, established leadership in women's health and minimally invasive surgery, and the ability and willingness to teach their peers to perform robotic surgery.

While traditional open surgery often requires long incisions that damage surrounding tissue, robot-assisted surgery is performed through tiny incisions of one to two centimeters and with minimal impact to the surrounding area. Patient benefits include less pain and blood loss, reduced risk of infection, shorter hospital stay and faster recovery.

The robotic surgical system provides surgeons with enhanced dexterity, precision and control through patented instruments with a much greater range of motion than the human hand and wrist. It also provides surgeons with three-dimensional, high-definition vision for improved clarity and detail of the surgical area, which translates to more precise surgery, with better results and fewer complications.

Targeting Bladder Cancer With Robotic Surgery

2011-10-26T14:00:31-07:00

Steve Jamison turned to Carol Salem, medical director of Scripps Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery Program, to discuss treatment options when he faced a diagnosis of bladder cancer. Robotic surgery allowed Dr. Salem to remove the diseased organ and create a new bladder from a section of intestine, then placed back into his body – all with minimal incisions and blood loss. See the surgical robot in action.

Learn more about how Scripps is transforming medicine.