Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital said that Professor Kim Mi-ran has become the first physician in the Asian region to complete 1,000 cases of robotic myomectomy surgery.
“Professor Kim has achieved the landmark record after starting her first surgery in April 2009,” the hospital said. “Since then, she has removed 4,493 uterine fibroids from 1,000 patients, and the uterus of all 1,000 patients was rebuilt to preserve fertility.”
Besides, none of the 1,000 patients had to convert to laparotomy during robotic surgery, the hospital added.
The hospital stressed that such a feat was the result of a thorough evaluation of patients before surgery, excellent teamwork, and advanced medical technology.
Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumor in women and can cause infertility. According to a study conducted by Professor Kim in 2017 using data at the National Health Insurance Service, the prevalence of uterine fibroids increased about four times, especially among women in their late 20s and early 30s.
The study attributed the increase in the incidence of fibroids to rises in marital age and that of first childbirth as well as the lowest birthrate in OECD.
The surgical method for removing myoma is determined by laparotomy, laparoscopic surgery, or robotic surgery, according to the size, number, and location of the myoma. For a single woman or a woman who wants to become pregnant, the patient has to undergo a delicate surgery to reconstruct the uterus to preserve fertility after removal of myoma.
Professor Kim used a unique technique to protect the uterus and ovaries by minimizing postoperative adhesion while removing many myomas.
Kim managed to preserve the fertility of patients by applying her technique to even cases where there were large numbers of myomas or the size and where the location of the myomas made it difficult for laparoscopic surgery.
“The incidence of uterine fibroids is inversely related to childbirth in many studies, and preserving the uterine function of women of childbearing age has immeasurable social and economic value in this era of low infertility,” Professor Kim said. “Severe uterine fibroids in unmarried women or married women who want to give birth are very serious. Delicate and precise technique of robotic surgery is very effective in preserving fertility by minimizing uterine damage during surgery and speeding up the recovery process.”
Couples who want to conceive after robotic surgeries also show a high pregnancy rate, and it is very rewarding to see them giving birth to a precious new life, she added.