vNOTES Hysterectomy and BSO

Hi,

!5 years ago my husband had an operation on his throat by laser. He was only the second person in our hospital to have this done. I believe it is standard practice now. At the time we decided if they didn't ever get to try new techniques nothing would ever advance. In hindsight I think it was quite brave of us, and I'm not sure I would have gone with that decision it it had been me!!! xxx 

HI NannyAnny  Yes , Doctors and Surgeons have to learn new techniques although Modern Virtual Reality can help a bit, operating on a patient is the real deal.   I had two successful cataract ops in 2020, it's a safe almost trivial operation nowadays . It was at Moorfields (a teaching hospital) and I had two different experiences,  The first was done by a surgeon under training and I could hear the Supervisor giving advice throughout.  The second was the reverse, a Consultant doing the procedure and explaining each stage to an observer,  I learnt a lot!  it's all about the passing on of skills and  I am sure your husband's surgeon was able to pass on his experience to other doctors. 

Hi oldady,

I also remember being stitched up after the birth of my first child with about 20 students watching!! By that point I was past caring!!! xxx 

Also the information sheet I was given clearly stated it cannot be undertaken without vaginal descent so out of the question as I've never had a vaginal birth!

Glad it turned out well for your husband xx

I had researched this very new technique before my appointment to discuss it,  I am all for progress in medical/surgical techniques too and was willing to go ahead if I could be reassured it was suitable for me and it wasn't my questions to the registrar were not answered satisfactorily and more to the point the information sheet that she read out to me only highlighted the fact in black and white that it wasn't. The procedure is also not recognised, not recommended or deemed as safe to perform and will not be looked at again until August 2023 without the reassurance from NICE was another no no for me. 

I am flabbergasted - why was it even mentioned to you?

Right from the start of this journey at the hysteroscopy appointment she said to me this probably isn't cancer but we can do a hysterectomy for you we can even do it without any external incision, aew way which means you can walk out of here the same day as your surgery,  no mention of a trial then.  Now at that point mid May she hasn't even done her first one,  she's done 2 a week since then 8 in total and when I asked her if she'd done any endometrial cancer patients she said one I think! Now I understand she might be excited by this but it's major surgery and for me to not even meet e criteria for suitability it was a definite no no and my daughter sat with me looking horrified that I was contemplating it... Well on to a new path hopefully won't have to wait too much longer

Thank you

I find this so hard to believe they were even contemplating it. How did they react when you challenged it? Just blank faces?

Incredible, nearly lost for words!

Hugs, Barb xx