PROFESSOR BARRY O'REILLY IN THE MEDIA
OAB & URINARY STRESS INCONTINENCE MEDIA COVERAGE
"Women have said they're not aware they even have a pelvic floor"
Professor Barry O'Reilly has highlighted the widespread effects of pelvic floor disorders across a range of media over the last few years. His press coverage has also highlighted the success of the new trans vaginal laser treatment for pelvic floor issues.
The headline above, "Women have said they're not aware they even have a pelvic floor," is from the most recent article in the Independent, on 22nd July 2019. Excerpt below:
"A LACK of understanding amongst young women about the importance of the pelvic floor - which, if weakened during childbirth can cause incontinence - is being linked to problems later in life, according to the latest research.
A yet-to-be-published study of just under 1,000 female students at University College Cork, which is to be presented at a prestigious international conference later this year, warns that lack of knowledge about the pelvic floor has been associated with higher levels of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), a condition which can result in urinary incontinence.....read more here."
A condition that affects up to 350,000 people in Ireland
Writing for the Irish Times, on 29th May 2018, Professor O'Reilly chose the compelling title, "Everything you wanted to know about overactive bladder but were too embarrassed to ask," for his article. He opened his article with the somewhat startling statistic that, "Overactive bladder (OAB) – a condition that affects up to 350,000 people in Ireland – is a treatable medical condition in which the bladder is more active than usual."
Recent Irish statistics have revealed that 25% of Irish women between the ages of 40 to 70 suffer, often in silence, with an overactive bladder. These statistics also stated that 28% of women with the condition, do not present to doctors, believing that they can cope with the symptoms and often not realising that there is treatment available.
However urinary incontinence doesn't only affect the physiological, it also has a significant impact on a person's psychological well-being. Sufferers may feel more socially isolated, it can affect their self-image negatively and even their interpersonal relationships. Additionally urinary incontinence can disturb sleep, work productivity and leisure activities.
Professor O'Reilly has been able to get coverage about this widespread problem not only in the Irish Times, but also in Australia's most important newspaper, the Herald Sun. Additionally he has been interviewed on the radio about it, and featured in the Independent and other media.
To read any article, just click on its photo.
INCOMPETENT CERVIX-DA VINCI ROBOTIC SURGERY MEDIA COVERAGE
In 2012, a number of newspaper articles as well as an interview on the RTE six o'clock news marked one of the most important moments in Professor O'Reilly's life. The da Vinci robotic surgery that he had performed on his patient, Anne O'Mahony, had been central in her being able to carry her baby full term and give birth to her daughter Zoey.
Anne O'Mahony is one of a number of women who are prone to miscarriages due to having a weakened cervix. Medically known as an incompetent cervix, this condition occurs in approximately 1 out of every 100 women.
The surgery that Anne underwent involves inserting a carefully placed stitch around the cervix in order to prevent it opening prematurely. However, the procedure, which is called an interval abdominal cervical cerclage has traditionally been carried out by performing an open abdominal incision, which requires a long recovery period and hospital stay. In Anne's case, the da Vinci surgical system was available at Cork University Maternity Hospital, which meant that Professor O'Reilly was able to carry it out for Anne – a first in the UK and Ireland.
The benefit of this robotic method is as Professor O'Reilly explained that by:
"Putting a robot on the job means less trauma for the mother. The da Vinci surgical system benefits patients because it involves less pain and scarring, reduced risk of infection, reduced blood loss and fewer transfusions, quicker recovery time and discharge from hospital, and return to normal activities.” (Quote from the Irish Examiner)
The da Vinci robotic surgery had also played a successful role in Anne O'Mahony's first pregnancy, when she gave birth to her first daughter Lucy, in June 2011. At that time, Anne was one of the first women in Europe to have benefited from this pre-pregnancy robotic surgery, enabling her to be able to carry her baby full term.
The birth of her second daughter, Zoey, under Professor O'Reilly's care, made her the first woman in Ireland to have achieved a second full term pregnancy with the assistance of the da Vinci robotic surgery.
Professor Barry O'Reilly was absolutely delighted for Anne, her family and other Mums-to-be.
Professor O'Reilly and his team were absolutely delighted for Anne and her family. Yet not only this, the birth of Zoey marked an important moment for other mums-to-be. The success of the da Vinci robotic surgery is excellent news for those mums-to-be who require this type of procedure, to be able to maintain their pregnancy full-term.
To learn more about this surgery, click on da Vinci robotic surgery.
To read any article, just click on its photo.
