News & Articles For You From Randolph OB/GYN

Dr. Karen Horne Now Offers Robotic Hysterectomies

Dr. Karen Horne of Randolph Obstetrics & Gynecology (Randolph OB/GYN) has become one of the first OB/GYNs in Charlotte to become proficient in robotic surgery for laparoscopic hysterectomies. Robotic surgery utilizes the da Vinci Si™ surgical system that has revolutionized surgery for many specialties. For gynecology procedures, the da Vinci Si™ surgical system can be utilized to perform laparoscopic hysterectomies.

“Some people are taken aback at first when they hear the word ‘robotic,” Dr. Horne explained. “Every movement is fully under the physician’s control. ‘Robotic’ simply refers to the way the system replicates the physician’s hand movements with very precise instruments inside the patient’s body. The benefits of minimally invasive surgery using these state of the art laparoscopic techniques are very appealing to patients who need surgery but would like to return to their normal activities as soon as possible.”

Benefits include:
• Avoiding large, painful incisions
• Performing the entire surgery with only a few, tiny (5-11mm) incisions
• Less blood loss
• Quicker recovery
• Less chance for infection
• Less overall pain
• Shorter hospital stay
• Faster return to normal activity

“Patients are typically up and walking within hours of the surgery. Some patients can even go home the same day. Because they have less pain, most patients are able to resume household and career responsibilities within a week or two,” Dr. Horne said. “This is the perfect choice for busy women who need surgery but don’t have time for the long eight-week recovery associated with an open hysterectomy.”

Key features of the da Vinci Si™ surgical system include:
• Enhanced 3D, high-definition vision of the operative field, with up to 10X magnification - Greater visualization and magnification allows the surgeon to tackle cases that are more challenging while still performing the hysterectomy in a safe, efficient manner, Dr. Horne explained.
• Superior visual clarity of tissue and anatomy – The surgeon can carefully seal vessels and remove the uterus while taking great care to avoid injury to other structures.
• Surgical dexterity and precision far greater than the human hand – Allows for “meticulous dissection and avoidance of unnecessary tissue damage that ultimately leads to less overall pain.”

“In general, most women have exhausted all other options before they resort to having a hysterectomy. My job is to make this process as easy as possible. I want my patients to have a safe surgery that requires less recovery time so they can get on with their lives,” states Dr. Horne.

With offices at 2711 Randolph Road, as well as the EpiCentre in uptown Charlotte and on Statesville Road in Cornelius, Randolph OB/GYN was founded in 1976 and currently serves thousands of patients in the Charlotte region. Personal attention and caring for each individual is one of the practice’s core values.

Contact our office at 704-333-4104 or use our online contact form to discuss your health care needs.