A new minimally invasive procedure is now being performed at Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale for women who must undergo a hysterectomy.
Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (vNOTES) is the advanced gynecologic technique and newest approach to hysterectomy procedures which provides many benefits to patients, including a shorter hospital stay, less postoperative pain, no visible scars and a faster recovery time.
Daniel Gomez, MD, FACOG, FACS, Chief, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Holy Cross Health, was the first surgeon in the state of Florida to perform this procedure and among the few surgeons in Broward County/South Florida who has been specially trained on the innovative approach to hysterectomy and other common gynecologic procedures.
“At Holy Cross, we provide the highest quality care for patients, and vNOTES is a leading-edge technique that certainly enhances patient care for women,” said Dr. Gomez. “As a less invasive option, vNOTES provides many benefits to our patients. A vast majority of my patients are able to leave the hospital the same day of the procedure.”
The vNOTES technique, which uses the vagina as a surgical access route, is the newest approach to hysterectomy procedures. For the surgery, a vNOTES device known as theGelPOINT® V-Path transvaginal access platform is placed through the vagina into the pelvic cavity, giving access to the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. The vNOTES device is the means by which the abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide gas to give the surgeon the space needed to see and operate. A high-definition camera and specialized instruments are inserted through the device, allowing surgeons to operate with the utmost precision and visualization. Once the surgery is completed, the vNOTES device is removed and the gas is evacuated.
Hysterectomies are performed each year for women with chronic pain, fibroids, heavy bleeding, endometriosis, and precancerous or cancerous tumors. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists have recommended vaginal hysterectomy, whenever feasible, as the recommended approach.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Gomez, please call 954-781-0180 or 954-229-6000.
ABOUT HOLY CROSS HEALTH
A member of Trinity Health, Fort Lauderdale-based Holy Cross Hospital, dba Holy Cross Health, is a full-service, non-profit, Catholic, teaching hospital operating in the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy. Holy Cross has been named one of the top 10 hospitals in the Miami metro area and among the top 30 in the state in U.S. News and World Report’s 2020-2021 Best Hospital rankings. Through strategic collaborations and a commitment to being a person-centered, transforming, healing presence, the 557-bed hospital offers progressive inpatient, outpatient and community outreach services and clinical research trials to serve as our community’s trusted health partner for life. Holy Cross Health also encompasses Holy Cross HealthPlex outpatient facility, urgent care centers and more than 50 Holy Cross Medical Group physician practices. To learn more about Holy Cross Health, visit holy-cross.com. Connect @holycrossfl.
