WOMEN'S HEALTH Specialized services, top-quality care LE S S IS MORE WHEN IT COMES TO GYNECOLOGIC SURGERY Many women are finding that less Dr. Corsi says the gyneco- is more—at least when it comes logical team has created a to gynecologic surgery and the center of excellence to treat size of the incisions used to per- some of the most common form operations. gynecological conditions. Among the minimally inva- Women who need gynecologic PAUL CORSI, MD surgery can turn with confidence sive gynecologic procedures performed at St. Joe are: to St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO). St Joe is a recognized leader in women's health • Hysterectomies (removal care and one of the area's leaders in performing minimally • Myomectomies (removal of fibroids) invasive gynecologic surgery, including robotic-assisted surgery. St. Joe's Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery program was designed by board-certified gynecologists, who are experts in minimally invasive surgery, says SJMO obstetrician-gynecologist Paul Corsi, MD. Open hysterectom daVinci hysterectorn incisio of the uterus) Minimally invasive surgery offers many benefits over traditional open surgery. • Oncologic (cancer) procedures • Less blood loss because of precise surgical dissection • Less scarring • Pelvic floor (incontinence) • Sacrocolpopexy for vaginal vault prolapse • Resection of endometriosis • Shorter hospital stay • Faster recovery time and return to regular activities The expert team of surgeons, nurses and clinicians at St. Joe operates with the smallest possible incision.The hospital of- Many women prefer minimally invasive surgery because fers a number of minimally invasive gynecologic procedures Many times, women who undergo minimally invasive gy- it offers numerous benefits to the patient over traditional that use laparoscopes, hysteroscopes or the do VinciTM Sur- gical System. All minimally invasive surgeries use tiny video open surgery, says Dr. Corsi. Benefits of minimally invasive necologic surgeries are able to return home the same day as their procedure. surgery include: cameras and surgical tools placed in the body through small • Smaller incisions with less pain incisions that are often less than I centimeter in size. For more information or referral to a gynecologist who • Decreased risk of infection performs minimally invasive surgery, call 800-372-6094. WHAT WOMEN NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STROKE A stroke is a brain attack, which time is brain. A patient with a stroke has a window of up to occurs when the blood supply TREATMENT When women are brought to the hospital 4Y2 hours before brain cells begin to die.The sooner a patient for treatment of stroke, the physician will administer a to the brain is cut off. Usually, a reaches the emergency room, the sooner treatment can begin stroke is caused by a blocked ar- clot-busting drug to dissolve the clot. However, if the and the sooner the patient can be on her way to recovery. woman is admitted outside of the time window for tery, preventing the flow of blood treating the stroke with IV medications, the physician and oxygen to the brain. When RISK FACTORS Common risk factors for stroke are this happens, brain cells die, lead- advanced age, excess weight, smoking, family history of ing to brain damage or death. stroke, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, diabetes or SYMPTOMS Generally, men and women have common symptoms when it comes to stroke: high cholesterol. Women have added risk factors, including: • Having migraines with auras • Having an autoimmune disease, such as lupus, or a Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body • Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding blood-clotting disorder stroke isn't caught in time, it may take weeks or months • Using birth control pills or menopausal hormone therapy to recover, if at all. The younger you are, the better your • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination • Being pregnant • Being postmenopausal and having a waist larger than 25 inches • Sudden severe headache with no known cause • Having a triglyceride level higher than 128 mg/dL of blood GREGORY NORRIS, MD However, women may have symptoms unique to them: • Sudden face and limb pain • Sudden hiccups • Sudden nausea • Sudden general weakness • Sudden chest pain • Sudden shortness of breath • Sudden palpitations If you experience any of these symptoms, have a family member call 91 I immediately. Stroke is an emergency, and will use a specially designed suction device to pull out the clot. Because each individual is different, people recover at different rates, notes Dr. Norris. "Either people recover quickly, in a matter of hours or days," he says. "But if the chances of recovery.The goal is to get back to [the activi- ties of] daily living." PREVENTION You can reduce your risk for stroke by controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising and not smoking. According to Gregory Norris, MD, a St. Joseph Mercy Oakland neurointensivist/neurologist, "stroke in women St. Joseph Mercy Oakland is Michigan's first certified pri- is related to birth control pills and smoking. Additionally, mary stroke center. It is the home of the Michigan Stroke pregnancy is a risk for stroke because of hormone changes." Network (MSN), which provides expert, state-of-the-art African American and Hispanic women are at higher risk for stroke than Caucasian women. telemedicine 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. FA LL 2012 4 stroke care to 30 partner hospitals in Michigan through MICHIGAN MEDICAL REPORT