Wed, Feb 25, 2026 at 12:00 AM

Gynecological robotic surgery

When Dr. Holly Kiper joined the Marshall Medical team increasing the staff of OB/GYNs to seven, that was good news for this growing community. But she also brought to the table skills and experience in robotic surgery, which is even better news for women facing a gynecological procedure.

“It’s been awesome for patients,” said Dr. Kiper, who did hundreds of robotic cases during her residency training. “Patients are leaving the same day after hysterectomies. There’s a lot less pain, less time under anesthesia. You can do bigger and more complicated cases robotically while still using smaller incisions. That’s good for the patient and for the healing process.”

The da Vinci® Surgical System is the primary, FDA-approved robotic platform used for gynecological surgeries, offering high-definition 3D visualization and instruments for precise, minimally invasive procedures. It’s commonly used for hysterectomy, myomectomy (fibroid removal), endometriosis resection and cystectomy (ovarian cyst removal). The surgeon remains in full control of the robotic arms, which are operated from a console in the operating room.

Opting for robotic surgery involves a conversation between a patient and her physician because the decision is based on what is best for her and for her particular anatomy. But when it is the right fit, it has many positive benefits leading to an easier outcome.

“It is an excellent tool for patients who otherwise would need a bigger surgery with more hospital time and down time,” Dr. Kiper said. “People get to recover in their own beds.”

The da Vinci Surgical System is a human-controlled surgical robot that uses a minimally invasive approach. Installed in its own operating suite at Marshall South, Marshall County residents now have access to the same equipment available in large hospitals. Dr. Kiper, who shares office space with Dr. Megan Zeien at Medical Centers OB/GYN at Marshall North, performs robotic procedures on Mondays at South. The long-term goal is to have enough surgical volume to add an additional robot at North.

“It’s a great tool for the right case. It’s a really good technique that avoids big incisions for a lot of patients.”

Dr. Kiper is from Satsuma, a small town just outside of Mobile. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of South Alabama. After moving to Dothan for medical school at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, she had the opportunity to do her clinical rotations in Guntersville — and fell in love with the community. She and her husband Kip – an engineer in Huntsville – are happy to be residents now.

The extraordinary system is named for Leonardo da Vinci in recognition of the 15^th century Renaissance genius as the inventor of the first robot, evidenced by drawings discovered after his death.

Key Features and Benefits of the da Vinci surgical system:

• Precision and Control: The system removes involuntary hand tremors and enhances dexterity, enabling surgeons to make movements smaller than 1/3 of a millimeter.
• Minimally Invasive: Uses small (5-12mm) incisions, resulting in less pain, reduced blood loss, and faster recovery (often returning to normal activity within two weeks) compared to open surgery.
• Enhanced View: Provides a 3D-HD view of the surgical site.

Commonly performed robotic procedures include:

• Hysterectomy: Removal of the uterus
• Myomectomy: Removal of uterine fibroids
• Endometriosis Resection: Treatment of endometrial tissue
• Oophorectomy/Ovarian Cystectomy: Removal of ovaries or cysts
• Sacrocolpopexy: Repair of pelvic organ prolapse
• Cancer Treatment: Procedures related to cervical, ovarian, or uterine cancer