Bristol endometriosis sufferers offered robotic surgery

Antonia Boyton was diagnosed with endometriosis 30 years ago

Endometriosis sufferers are being offered a procedure that surgically removes problem tissue using a robot.

Antonia Boyton, 54, spent most of her life plagued with extreme pain from the condition before undergoing surgery.

Available at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, the robot element allows surgeons to penetrate inaccessible areas, like the pelvis, more precisely.

Since the robotic surgery started 14 months ago, almost 200 women have been treated using the method.

The procedure is carried out at a specialist centre at Southmead Hospital and allows surgeons operating the robot to remove endometrial tissue, which can cause severe pain and long-term health problems.

Some consultants who have spoken to the BBC said getting surgical relief can be a postcode lottery but the situation is improving and more people are being referred to the right teams.

"There's a lot of publicity out there now about raising awareness for endometriosis," said one consultant.

Almost 200 women have been treated robotically over the past 14 months

Ms Boyton, from Wells, was diagnosed with endometriosis 30 years ago.

She underwent numerous operations to remove endometrial tissue and was prescribed morphine and anti-depressants to cope, which often left her bed-bound.

"My life was miserable," she said.

But in 2016, Ms Boyton paid for private treatment in London, where her endometrial tissue was surgically removed using a robot.

"I came off the [medication] and I got my life back," she said.

Ms Boyton recalled being dismissed by a medical professional when she was 19 and her previous experiences caused her to suffer panic attacks on the gynaecology ward.

Robotic surgery allows for more precise removal of unwanted tissue

What is endometriosis?

It is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Symptoms include pelvic pain - which is usually worse during menstruation, period pain which affects day-to-day life, pain during or after sex, and sometimes fertility issues.

Women of any age can be affected by the long-term condition.

Treatments include painkillers, hormonal contraceptives and surgery to cut away the tissue.

Source: NHS

According to the Royal College of Nursing, endometriosis affects one in 10 women and it takes an average of eight years to diagnose.

Islam Gamaleldin, co-lead at the Southmead specialist centre, said: "Greater articulation makes you access certain areas of the pelvis that you cannot easily access with laparoscopic surgery.

"It gives you better identification of the disease and more precise excision and we have started a thoracic endometriosis service because sometimes the endometriosis can affect the diaphragm and the lungs and these operations can be quite tricky.

"We are also quite unique in that we have really good connections with our team so it means we can offer a broader range of treatments."

Islam Gamaleldin works at the endometriosis specialist centre in Southmead Hospital

The team also includes radiologists, endometriosis nurse specialists, colorectal surgeons and cardiothoracic surgeons.

Data audited by the unit shows the length of stay on average has halved to just one day and waiting times are also down from two years to one.