Last month, we showed you a history making surgery for South Dakota and the region: a single incision no scar total hysterectomy was performed at Avera McKennan hospital in Sioux Falls.  Now we get to meet the patient who has nothing to show for the surgery but a smile and she couldn't be happier.

Logene Strathman from Randolph, Nebraska is back in Sioux Falls for her follow-up check-up with Dr. Luis Rojas with the Avera Women's Center for Gynecologic Cancer.  In late September, Logene had a total hysterectomy to remove a pelvic mass, but hers made medical history in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and the region. Dr. Rojas was the first surgeon around here to perform a single incision total hysterectomy.  A surgery he describes as just being born and already showing great promise.

Dr. Rojas, "We are making less invasive surgery even less invasive. There are very few publications on this so we will be one of the first to publish something on this and already we are seeing less pain for patients, patient recovery is quicker. Plus, we deal with females here. They like a belly with no scars."

It's done laparoscopically, but instead of using the traditional 3 instruments, making 3 incisions and leaving three scars through the abdomen wall, he uses one port. All the instruments go in to that single port. One incision is made through the belly button leaving no visible scar.

Dr. Rojas says, "She (Logene) is doing really well. Her bowel and bladder functions were never altered and she is back to her normal activities."

Logene only stayed in the hospital for one night and went home the next day.  Even then she only used pain medication for 2 days. Dr. Rojas says less incisions means less trauma to the body and that equals less pain.

Logene says, "It's been great. I was surprised how well I felt after being home for only one day. I was able to walk around the farm for several blocks. I felt really well really quickly." 

For Logene that was the important part. Getting back to an active life on the farm and it doesn't hurt that she has a scar free tummy either.

Logene smiles and says, "Oh yes! I'd recommend it to anyone."

By the way, the tumor Dr. Rojas removed during Logene's hysterecetomy came back benign. Now Logene is happy to say she is both cancer and scar free.