Gabriel Mitroi, M.D., Endometriosis Specialist, Obstetrics & Gynecology,
City: București, Romania.
Philosophy: Scientific studies point towards a genetic origin. I think, for now, until a specific method of treatment is found, excision remains the only method that offers various benefits to the patients.
Medications: I prescribe birth control pills after surgery for a few months and before surgery if the patient is in too much pain and painkillers do not work. For adenomyosis, I prescribe the Coil.
Imaging: I have a radiologist in my team specialized in MRI for endometriosis. I use the MRI in cases with suspicion of extensive Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis to be able to plan my time better and to have all specialists on stand-by/assisting me and of course, to inform the patients about the stay in the hospital, possible complications and the complexity of the surgery (bowel, bladder, ureteral reimplantation, etc).
Approach to persistent symptoms: I maintain contact with all patients after surgery for as long as is needed, so in case of persisting pain, I reassess the potential sources of pain and make recommendations based on the type of pain and symptoms and I usually recommend a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or Mirena coil if the source of pain points towards adenomyosis. I also refer patients to pain therapy. Unfortunately, I am not aware of any pelvic floor therapists in my country.
Dr Mitroi and his specialist team changed my life, I highly recommend for excision, and expertly resolving complex endo on bowels, bladder, urethra, ovaries. Also excellent surgical options for adenomyosis. The care pre op and post op is also exceptional. Travelled from Canada because of long delays in getting surgery and superior techniques.
I had a very bad experience with Mitroi in august 2020.
I didn’t get to meet him until a few minutes before the surgery and he seemed so rushed doing the consult that I didn’t really get the chance to ask about all my concerns. He didn’t stay more than 5 minutes and left me feeling very uncertain about the surgery.
When I was brought to the surgery room, I was told to take off all my clothes so I had to stand naked in front of the entire team. It was so humiliating.
In addition to evaluating my pelvis, we had agreed that he should also look for endo on my diaphragm and decide if I needed VATS. When I woke up, I was told that he had performed a PSN despite that we had not even discussed this. He had phoned my boyfriend during surgery and told him that I had adenomyosis and that a PSN was the only right thing to do, so he convinced my boyfriend to allow it. But I didn’t want a PSN and felt like he just didn’t care about my right to decide for my body.
He removed stage 2 endo from my pelvis, but I have no incision below my right ribs and the video from the surgery does not show the diaphragm (and I still have all my thoracic symptoms), so I do not believe that he looked at it.
After surgery they completely removed the opioid treatment which I had been on for several months before and then yelled at my and didn’t take me seriously when I complained about the withdrawal symptoms. Mitroi made fun of “us women from the north” because I cried and to me I only had myself to blaim for the horrific head pain because “I wouldn’t stand up” but I couldn’t because the withdrawal symptoms made me sick.
All in all it was a horrible experience that has left me traumatized and in the need for a second surgery. Most of my pelvic pain is gone, but the thoracic symptoms has just kept getting worse.
Response from Dr. Mitroi:
I know the case very well. Unfortunately her pain wasn’t and it isn’t from endometriosis and surgery didn’t help her too much.
We did and do our best with all of our patients. Since then our team has grown stronger and our patients have better care in the preop and postop period. As you know, we cannot satisfy all of our patients. Sometimes, even you do all that you can, some patients are not satisfied.
Thank you again for your feedback!
I had a good experience with Dr Mitroi at the Bucharest Endometriosis Centre. Communication with both Dr Mitroi and Manuela prior to my arrival was great. Once I arrived and had my MRI with Dr Livia I knew exactly what I could expect and learned of the need for my pudendal nerve to be decompressed and dissected. I don’t think that would have been found back home and was causing a lot of my symptoms.
I had a total hysterectomy as well with both ovaries removed (my choice given my age) and excision of DIE in areas of my pelvis.
The care I received was better than anything I would have received at home. There was one issue with pain relief (I can’t use morphine) and once I alerted Dr Mitroi and Manuela it was corrected immediately.
Dr Mitroi continued to answer all my questions while I was still in Romania and when I got home. I didn’t have the opportunity to go over my report with him during post op appointment but any questions I had, I emailed him and he explained.
I am so grateful to Dr Mitroi and all of his colleagues behind the scenes, nurses etc at BEC.
I am now pain free and look forward to the future.
the best!