Monthly Archives: August 2016
TESTIMONY on ROBOTIC OPERATION
By: Satisfied Patient
In June of this year, I suffered from abdominal pains which increased in intensity and frequency. Upon consultation and observation with my long-time OB-Gyne, Dra. Rebecca Singson, it was diagnosed that I needed to have an appendectomy and hysterectomy. Of course, the prospect of having what Dra Singson called an extensive surgery, caused me some apprehensions.
Dra Singson said I could have it done through Laparoscopic Surgery, but if there was further procedures to be done, she would have to do an incision, which would take a longer time to heal. I asked her on other options, and she told me about Robotic Surgery, which was less risky and whatever other procedures would be needed, it could be done without any incision needed. She highly recommended it, and trusting Dra Singson, my family and I agreed on the Robotic Operation procedure.
On the day of the procedure/operation, I found myself more relaxed and not anxious as I thought I would be. I had been praying and I knew all would be well, with God in control and being under Dra Singson’s capable hands. When I was wheeled into the Operating Room of St. Lukes Global, vey lucid, since no oral relaxant was given to me, I was not intimidated in spite of all the instruments and team of medical personnel there. I felt quite secure. Dra. Singson even “introduced” me to the robot she would use in the procedure. I was then put to sleep under general anaesthesia. The procedure took some hours as the doctors made sure it was thoroughly administered. I did not feel anything throughout as I was in deep sleep.
I woke up some hours later, already in the Recovery Room. There was no pain whatsoever in the 4 tiny incisions placed. However, I was having bad gas pains, which I found out was due to air being blown in the abdominal cavity as protection from the instruments that were put in the abdomen by the doctor. I was told that I was to release the gas through burping and flatulence.
After being brought into my room, I continuously burped but found great relief when a nurse told me to sit down, which enabled me to flatulate. That relieved me a lot. I was also encouraged to start walking little by little so healing would be faster.
After 24 hours, with all body signs stable, Dra Singson sent me home to continue to recover. I was walking but taking it slow. I felt fine and I knew I was well on the way to recovery. A week after, I went to the hair salon, and people were surprised with my fast recuperation, saying that I did not even look like I had undergone both appendectomy and hysterectomy.
Now, eight weeks have passed, and Dra Singson has given me the go-signal to return to my normal activities. I know that if an incision was done, I still would be recuperating. But I am back to my normal activities, and truly glad and thankful we opted for Robotic Surgery.
Robotic Surgery in the Philippines: Dr. Rebecca Singson’s Speciality
Robotic Surgery Philippines
Finally Robotic Surgery is available in the Philippines.
Unless you are a man from Krypton, suffering from a major illness once or twice in your lifetime will be inevitable. Even the most seemingly healthy person with all the exercise and “right food” will come down with something when that person hits middle age. Some get ill at a younger age, especially those who have “inherited” certain conditions from their parents or ancestors. Not until recently, surgery is almost always the last recourse for the lot of us because surgery is painful. Painful for the body as well as the finances. With traditional surgery, you will be in the hospital for weeks, some maybe even months. Though initial costs are lower than robotic surgery, the final cost will eventually equal, if not surpass robotic surgery, if you include the cost of the lengthy hospital stay, incidental expenses and lost income/ opportunities. Guaranteed, robotic surgery will do the same thing as traditional surgery, but will also have you up and about in three days after the operation. On the fourth day or earlier, you will be strong enough to hail your own cab. By the following Monday, you will be strong enough to return to the office and after another week, it will all be a memory, sans the illness.
Dr. Rebecca Singson: surgeon with a vision
Dr. Singson is one of the doctors who is known to be ahead of her time. She is a highly-renowned gynecologist and one of the few doctors in the Philippines internationally accredited to even operate the Da Vince Si surgical robot, which is the only one in operation here in the Philippines at the St. Luke’s Medical Center at the Global City, Taguig. Along with her surgery team, she also does cancer surgery, among her usual gynecological duties of hysterectomies (removal of the uterus) and mymectomies (removal of myomas). Also if a woman wants to get pregnant, Dr. Singson is also your best bet. Graduating with honors at the University of the Philippines, Dr. Singson is a pioneer in the use of the Da Vinci system for surgeries that would otherwise be near-fatal for diabetics, older people and those with existing conditions who may not survive open surgery.
SLMC invested US$ 2.6 Million to make this technology available to the Pinoy.
Fast recovery: the gift of Robotic Surgery
Why choose robotic surgery? The speed of recovery is phenomenal. Never before has there been any kind of procedure that actually allowed you to heal weeks faster compared to being hacked open. You lose less blood during the procedure, because the robotic arms are very precise. Compared to traditional laparoscopy, the robotic surgeon gets to see a highly magnified picture of the area being operated on, effectively avoiding the cutting of blood vessels that might cause terrible bleeding. Plus there are four robotic arms compared to the laparoscopic surgeon’s two, with the robotic arms having a more flexible range of motion, even far more than the human hand. It’s like having equally knowledgeable helpers around, but the surgeon is not near the patient during all this. The distance lessens the incidence of infection.
Robotic surgery may just be the technology you need to save your life. For more information, call:
St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City
32nd Street and 5th Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Metro Manila
Room 305, Medical Arts Building
Tel No.: +632-789-7700 loc. 7305
Direct Line: +639178003446
Clinic hours: Mon/Tues/ Thurs 2-4PM/ Fri 4-6PM
Susan Orillos
Last year, August 2015, I underwent Robotic Surgery to remove my Cervix and Uterus as I was diagnosed with Endometriosis. At the age of 56, I was still having my periods then. Prior to my operation, I was praying so hard that God will bless me with a very good doctor.
My daughter and I were in search for the best Ob-Gyn; we read and studied the qualifications of different doctors, the cases they’ve dealt with, etc. Upon reading so many articles, there was this doctor who caught our attention and whom we were very impressed with – and that’s Dra. Rebecca Singson.
Remembering my first meeting with her, I already saw a friendly, prayerful and well-experienced doctor in the field of Obstetrics. After her explaining why I should undergo the operation and the advantages of Robotic Surgery, I had my operation scheduled right away.
I believe Robotic Surgery is a very safe procedure as I only have very small cuts/ incisions on my belly. Few hours after the operation, I was already able to walk to the CR as I didn’t feel any pain. I stayed in the hospital for only 3 days, and on the 5th day, I was already out in the mall!
A year after my operation, I had my check-up again and underwent different tests, i.e. Ovary & Breast Ultrasounds and Mammogram. With God’s grace, all results were okay.
To Dra. Rebecca, I thank you for not only being a very good doctor, but also a FRIEND to all your patients, who are afraid and confused during those challenging times of their lives. You are indeed, God’s answer to my prayers. May God bless you always!
How to undergo a major surgery without missing a day of work
It is possible to not miss a day of work after a complicated major surgery, if done with Robotic Surgery . I recently performed a Robotic Surgery to remove the uterus, cervix, Fallopian tubes and ovaries of a high level bank executive who had multiple myomas in her uterus with ovarian cysts . She was a complicated case. Because she had a previous laparoscopic removal of her left ovarian cyst for endometriosis (robotic surgery was not even around back then), she had massive adhesions of her ovaries to the intestines and to the back of her uterus which made her case really difficult and complicated . But thanks to robotic surgery on a Friday , she went home in 36 hours and was back to work, full blast in the bank that Monday, without canceling a single meeting, and got her sick leave converted to vacation leave at a future more opportune time !! She is 6 weeks post Robotic Surgery and never had a glitch in her post operative course!!
Robotic surgery is the way to go!! It minimalizes the usual difficult and long recovery of a major surgery !! Hooray for Robotic Surgery !
