December 4, 2012
St.Vincent Performs Innovative Hysterectomy
INDIANAPOLIS – Elisha Murphy, 33 stands at 5’2” and weighs 435 lbs. Her body mass index is scored at an 83 – one is considered morbidly obese at the score of 40 or higher. For the past ten years, Murphy of Brookville, Ind. has suffered from severe menstrual bleeding and was referred to Dr. Hubert Fornalik, St.Vincent Cancer Care gynecologic oncologist. After a consultation, it was determined that a da Vinci® robotic surgical hysterectomy would provide Murphy with the relief she was seeking.
To safely and effectively perform Murphy’s surgery at her size, Dr. Fornalik had to find an anesthesiologist with the expertise of working with obese patients. Extensions for the operating room bed were ordered along with extensions for the side of the bed to accommodate her size and weight. Dr. Fornalik’s team also had to plan the surgery differently along with her position to most effectively perform the hysterectomy.
Approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed annually in the United States. The hysterectomy is the second most frequently performed surgical procedure (after cesarean section) for women in the nation.
Currently, Murphy is recovering very well from her hysterectomy and is beginning to work with the St.Vincent Bariatric Center of Excellence at St.Vincent Carmel Hospital.
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St.Vincent Hospitals and Health Services
Driven by the faith of four Daughters of Charity who arrived in Indianapolis in 1881 with $34.77 in their pockets, the St.Vincent Hospital mission is to treat the poor and sick by following our Core Values of Service of the Poor, Reverence, Integrity, Wisdom, Creativity and Dedication. Our healthcare ministry has grown to include seven Centers of Excellence: Women's, Children's, Orthopedics, Cardiovascular, Neuroscience, Cancer Care and Bariatrics. The ageless mission of St.Vincent remains unchanged: to minister to the minds, bodies and spirits of those in need.
For more information contact:
Jennifer Dial
St.Vincent Health
Public Relations Consultant
(317) 583-4031 (office)
jkdial@stvincent.org