Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust is offering an innovative minimally invasive surgical technique that could help women recover more quickly, experience less pain and avoid visible scars following gynaecological surgery.
The procedure, known as vNOTES (Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery), enables surgeons to perform certain operations through a natural body opening rather than making incisions in the abdomen. The technique combines advanced endoscopic technology with established vaginal surgical approaches, allowing surgeons to remove the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and ovarian cysts without the need for visible abdominal cuts.
The Trust has adopted the technique as part of its commitment to providing patients with the latest advances in minimally invasive care. Studies have shown that vNOTES can offer equivalent surgical outcomes to conventional minimally invasive surgery while improving the patient recovery experience.
Mr Ayman Ewies, Consultant Gynaecological Surgeon at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, said: “This is an exciting development in women’s healthcare. vNOTES enables us to perform a range of gynaecological procedures using a highly advanced minimally invasive approach, giving patients all the benefits of keyhole surgery without any visible abdominal scars. The benefits of keyhole surgery are already recognised and this is a further step towards offering women options for an enhanced recovery and potentially shorter stay in hospital. For many women, this means less pain, a quicker recovery and the possibility of returning home sooner after their procedure. Most importantly, it helps us continue to provide safe, high-quality care while improving the overall patient experience.
“I will be training other surgeons in this technique to ensure we can offer this surgical procedure as widely as possible.”
Traditionally, major gynaecological surgery required either an abdominal incision or several abdominal keyhole incisions. vNOTES eliminates the need for these external cuts by allowing surgeons to access the pelvic cavity through the vagina while maintaining excellent visualisation using a high-definition camera system.
The introduction of vNOTES supports wider NHS ambitions to increase the use of minimally invasive surgery. National guidance highlights the benefits of laparoscopic and vaginal approaches in reducing recovery times, shortening hospital stays and improving outcomes for patients.
The Trust’s specialist gynaecology team will assess patients individually to determine whether vNOTES is the most appropriate treatment option for their condition.