NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County Completes The First VNOTES Hysterectomy In New York State
Minimally invasive technique marks a surgical milestone and advances care for women at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County Patients benefit from reduced postoperative pain, lower infection risk, quicker recovery, decreased reliance on pain medications, and no visible scarring
Jul 01, 2025
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County announced the successful completion of the first VNOTES (vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery) hysterectomy in New York State. The landmark procedure, performed by Dr. Concepcion Diaz-Arrastia, marks a major advancement in minimally invasive gynecologic care.
VNOTES, or vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, represents a transformative advancement in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. This technique combines the benefits of traditional vaginal and laparoscopic surgery by using a specialized access platform to enter the abdominal cavity through the vaginal canal—eliminating the need for any abdominal incisions. Patients benefit from reduced postoperative pain, lower infection risk, quicker recovery, decreased reliance on pain medications, and no visible scarring. From a surgical perspective, VNOTES streamlines operative times and facilitates resident training. The technique is endorsed by leading medical bodies such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL), the Cochrane Collaboration, and the International Society for Gynecologic Endoscopy (ISGE). It is used in a wide range of procedures, including hysterectomy, salpingectomy, oophorectomy, ovarian cystectomy, and selected oncologic cases.
“The successful completion of the first VNOTES hysterectomy in New York State marks a significant advancement in women’s surgical care,” said Sheldon McLeod, Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County. “This minimally invasive procedure reflects our commitment to adopting innovative techniques that enhance patient recovery, reduce complications, and deliver superior outcomes for the communities we serve.”
“Having the ability to do a robotic VNOTES hysterectomy is a great way to perform more complex hysterectomies without abdominal incisions,” said Dr. Concepcion Diaz-Arrastia, a board-certified specialist in Obstetrics-Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology with over 12 years of service at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County. “It improves the overall patient recovery experience, decreases pain levels and hospital stay, and offers excellent cosmetic results. I am excited and honored to be the first in New York State to complete a successful VNOTES procedure.”
“NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County has been at the forefront of advancing care for women for decades,” said Dr. Ngozi Nwankpa, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County. “As the premier training ground of one of the oldest OB/GYN residencies and the first GYN Oncology fellowship program in the country, NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County continues its legacy of pushing the envelope with the performance of VNOTES. Using a vaginal endoscopic approach, women can receive advanced surgical care including GYN cancer procedures without abdominal incisions, which reduces healing time and allows women to return to the fullness of their lives faster. We are proud of this noteworthy accomplishment and what it means for women of the surrounding communities who receive care at our facility.”
“The promise of VNOTES lies not only in its minimally invasive technique, but in its potential to standardize quality and expand equitable access to advanced gynecologic care,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Chief Women’s Health Officer Wendy Wilcox, MD, MPH, MBA, FACOG. “The Kings County OBGYN team is to be commended for bringing this surgical innovation to NYC Health + Hospitals and to the women of Brooklyn.”
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County is a 639-bed acute care teaching hospital located in Central Brooklyn. Among our highly specialized programs are a Level I Trauma Center, Pediatric Emergency Room, Level 3 Perinatal Center, Heart Health Center, Stroke Center, Sickle Cell Program, Behavioral Health Center, and Diabetes Education Center of Excellence. Many of our programs have received national recognition, including our cardiac, stroke, and diabetes services. The hospital offers a broad array of primary and specialty care, including practices in neuroscience, orthopedics, urology and cardiology. Annually, our ambulatory care practices see well over 500,000 visits and more than 150,000 visits in the Behavioral Health outpatient program, in addition to close to 23,000 inpatient discharges. NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County has played a major role in providing health care to vulnerable populations in Brooklyn since 1831 and is part of NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest public health care system in the nation. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/kingscounty and stay connected on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KingsCountyHosp or X at @KingsCountyHosp.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation, serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
