Laparoscopic nerve-sparing complete excision of deep endometriosis: is it feasible? (original) (raw)

The effects and effectiveness of laparoscopic excision of endometriosis: a prospective study with 2-5 year follow-up

Human Reproduction, 2003

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the outcomes for women up to 5 years after laparoscopic excision of endometriosis. METHODS: In this prospective observational cohort study, 254 women with chronic pelvic pain were referred to two units specializing in minimal access surgical management of endometriosis. Of these, 216 women underwent surgical assessment and 176 were con®rmed to have endometriosis. Questionnaires and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for dysmenorrhoea, non-menstrual pelvic pain, dyspareunia and dyschesia as well as quality of life instruments; the EQ-5Dindex and EQ-5Dvas, Short-Form 12 (SF-12) and sexual activity questionnaires were completed pre-operatively. Intra-operative details of revised American Fertility Society (rAFS) stage, site of disease, associated tests, duration of surgery and complications were noted. Follow-up was performed by postal questionnaire and chart review. For women who had further surgery, rAFS stage, site of disease, other procedures and histology were all recorded. RESULTS: Pain scores were all signi®cantly reduced at 2±5 years for dysmenorrhoea (median VAS baseline versus follow-up 2±5 years); 9 versus 3.3 (P < 0.0001), non-menstrual pelvic pain 8 versus 3 (P < 0.0001), dyspareunia 7 versus 0 (P < 0.0001) and dyschesia 7 versus 2 (P < 0.0001). Quality of life was improved for the EQ-5Dindex (P = 0.008 and the EQ-5Qvas (P = 0.03) and for sexual function with pleasure (P = 0.001) and habit (P = 0.012) being improved and discomfort being decreased (P = 0.001). The chance of requiring further surgery as determined by the Kaplan±Meier survival curve was 36%. A rAFS score of >70 was predictive of requiring further surgery (P = 0.03). Of women who had further surgery, endometriosis was found histologically in 68%. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic excision of endometriosis signi®cantly reduces pain and improves quality of life for up to 5 years. The probability of requiring further surgery is 36%. Return of pain following laparoscopic excision is not always associated with clinical evidence of recurrence.

Laparoscopic Excision of Endometriosis May Require Unilateral Parametrectomy

Objective: We investigated the effects of laparoscopic excision of endometriosis with unilateral parametrectomy on bladder, rectal, and sexual function as well as patient satisfaction. Methods: Women who underwent this procedure between February 1, 2006 and November 15, 2007 were enrolled. Patient characteristics, pre-and postoperative findings, and follow-up data were retrospectively collected from a computerized database. Results: Twelve patients were enrolled in the study. All of the symptoms except dysuria improved after surgery, worsening long after the operation. It seems that all parameters including sexuality, micturition, and defecation are equally important in regards to the final judgement of satisfaction, with a trend towards amelioration long after the operation. Conclusions: Unilateral parametrectomy may offer successful results in terms of patient satisfaction despite some impairment in bladder, bowel, and sexual function. The risk of permanent functional impairment is high; therefore , surgeons need to maintain the integrity of the con-tralateral nerve pathway. This is highly important, because pain relief seems to be partially involved in the final judgement of postoperation satisfaction.

Nerve-sparing laparoscopic disc excision of deep endometriosis involving the bowel: a single-center experience on 371 consecutives cases

Surgical Endoscopy, 2020

Background Bowel endometriosis is the most common pattern of Deep Endometriosis (DE). Arising from the posterior portion of the cervix and spreading to the recto-vaginal septum, utero-sacral and parametrial ligaments could lead to a distortion of normal pelvic anatomy, causing pain and infertility. Hormonal therapy is the first-line treatment in non-symptomatic patient. Conversely, laparoscopic surgical treatment has to be considered when symptoms relief are not optimal or with signs of bowel occlusion. Methods Retrospective experience of consecutive series of patients who referred to a third-level referral center with suspected bowel DE and failure of multiple medical treatments. After an intraoperative evaluation of nodule size with a rectal shaving of its external portion, patients underwent radical DE eradication with concomitant disc excision in rectal nodules < 3 cm with no signs of substantial full-thickness infiltration. Results A total of 371 patients were considered eligible for analysis, with a median age of 37 years. The median operative time of was 180 min, with an estimated blood loss of 100 mL and a median diameter of removed rectal nodule of 25 mm. Early postoperative procedure-related complications were 47 cases of acute rectal bleeding (12.7%), that were managed by rectal endoscopy, 3 bowel anastomotic dehiscence (0.8%), 8 hemoperitoneum (2.2%) and 3 ureteral fistula (0.8%). 22 patients experienced postoperative hyperpyrexia (5.9%), while 17 women underwent transient bladder deficiency (4.6%). Median follow-up was 60 months with a bowel recurrence rate of 2.2%. There was an improvement of all symptoms in the immediate postoperative follow-up (p < 0.0001). Among all patients with childbearing desire, the pregnancy rate found was 42.2% and was obtained by in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques in 32% of cases. Conclusions Laparoscopic disc excision for bowel endometriosis is an effective surgical treatment in selected residual rectal nodules < 3.0 cm. The concomitant radical DE excision contributes to a significant improvement of symptoms with an acceptable complications' rate.

Impact of nerve‐sparing posterolateral parametrial excision for deep infiltrating endometriosis on postoperative bowel, urinary, and sexual function

International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 2022

ObjectiveTo evaluate the functional outcomes of nerve‐sparing surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) with or without posterolateral parametrectomy.MethodsA multicenter, observational, retrospective, cohort study was performed including all symptomatic women who underwent nerve‐sparing laparoscopic excision of DIE and preoperative and postoperative assessment of functional outcomes through validated questionnaires between April 2019 and March 2020. Women with posterolateral parametrial DIE (P‐group) and women with no parametrial involvement (NP‐group) were compared in terms of preoperative and postoperative functional outcomes related to pelvic organs assessed through validated questionnaires (KESS and GIQLI for bowel function, BFLUTS for urinary function, and FSFI for sexual function); pain symptoms at 3‐month follow up assessed through an 11‐point visual analogue scale (VAS) for dyschezia, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and chronic pelvic pain; surgical outcomes; and rate of ...

Laparoscopic excision of endometriosis: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Fertility and Sterility, 2004

Objective: To examine the effect on pain and quality of life for women with all stages of endometriosis undergoing laparoscopic surgery compared with placebo surgery. Design: A randomized, blinded, crossover study. Setting: A tertiary referral unit in a district general hospital. Patient(s): Thirty-nine women with histologically proven endometriosis completed the 12-month study. Intervention(s): Women were randomized to receive initially either a diagnostic procedure (the delayed surgical group) or full excisional surgery (the immediate surgery group). After 6 months, repeat laparoscopy was performed, with removal of any pathology present. Main Outcome Measure(s): The end points were changes from baseline values of visual analogue pain scores, validated quality-of-life instruments (EQ-5D and SF-12), and sexual activity questionnaire scores. Patients and assessors of outcomes were blinded to the treatment-group assignment. Result(s): Significantly more of the 39 women operated on according to protocol reported symptomatic improvement after excisional surgery than after placebo: 16 of 20 (80%) vs. 6 of 19 (32%); 2 (1) ϭ 9.3. Other aspects of quality of life were also significantly improved 6 months after excisional surgery but not after placebo. Progression of disease at second surgery was demonstrated for women having only an initial diagnostic procedure in 45% of cases, with disease remaining static in 33% and improving in 22% of cases. Nonresponsiveness to surgery was reported in 20% of cases. Conclusion(s): Laparoscopic excision of endometriosis is more effective than placebo at reducing pain and improving quality of life. Surgery is associated with a 30% placebo response rate that is not dependent on severity of disease. Approximately 20% of women do not report an improvement after surgery for endometriosis.

Laparoscopic identification of pelvic nerves in patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis

Surgical Endoscopy, 2004

Background: Nerve sparing is suggested for cancer surgery, but no experience is available for deep endometriosis. The aim of this study was to laparoscopically identify the pelvic nerves in the posterior pelvis. Methods: A total of 24 patients operated for deep endometriosis were considered. During surgery and on videotapes of the procedures, we evaluated single-or double-sided resection of the uterosacral ligaments and other structure's visualization of the inferior hypogastric and the splanchnic nerves. The most important objective criteria for resection of the nerves was urinary retention after surgery, which was compared to surgical resection on the videotapes. Results: Visualization of the inferior hypogastric nerves was possible in 20 of 22 patients (90.1%). Eight of the 24 patients had at least one inferior hypogastric nerve resected (33.3%). In seven patients (29.2%) resection of the uterosacral ligaments was bilateral, and in three of these the nerves were resected. Postoperatively, the median residual urine volume after the first spontaneous voiding was 40 ml (range, 20-400). Seven of eight patients (29.2%) with resection of the nerves had urinary retention and self-catheterization at discharge. The difference in urinary residuum after first voiding between patients undergoing self-catheterization and patients released without the catheter was significant (p < 0.01). The median time to resume the voiding function in patients with self-catheterization was 18 days (range, 9-45). Conclusions: Nerve visualization is possible by means of laparoscopic surgery for deep endometriosis in a high rate of patients. Careful technique is necessary, but the laparoscopic approach may help. Even single-sided radical dissection can induce important urinary retention.

Radical resection of invasive endometriosis with bowel or bladder involvement—Long-term results

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 2005

Objective: With the present study we wanted to evaluate the effect of a radical resection of bowel and bladder endometriosis with respect to relief of pain symptoms and long-term effects. Study design: Retrospectively we analyzed 23 patients undergoing bowel or bladder resection for infiltrating endometriosis between 1995 and 2004. Chart review was performed and data were analyzed with respect to pain symptoms, fertility, type of surgery, operative morbidity and mortality. At 1, 3 and 5 years of follow-up patients were asked to evaluate their symptoms based on a visual analogue pain scale (0: no pain, 10: most severe pain). Results were compared using the Student's t-test. Results: Leading symptoms were chronic pelvic pain (17/23, 73.9%), dysmenorrhea (11/23, 47.8%), dyspareunia (6/23, 26.1%), infertility (4/23, 17.4%) and dyschezia (4/23, 17.4%). Three patients (13%) had abdominal hysterectomy, 5 (21.7%) LSO (n = 2) or BSO (n = 3), 18 (78.3%) anterior rectal resection, 4 (17.4%) sigmoid resection, 2 (8.6%) segmental bladder resection and one patient (4.3%) cecal resection. Major complications requiring re-operation occurred in three patients (2Â postoperative bleeding, 1Â anastomosis break-down). During follow-up (mean 40.5 months) 21 of the 23 patients (91.3%) had a persistent improvement of symptoms, 8 of the 23 (34.8%) had recurrent symptoms with a mean symptom-free interval of 40.4 months after surgery (24-60 months). No patient developed dyspareunia or dyschezia during follow-up. Overall cure rate was 73.9%. Four patients became pregnant (23%). Average pain scores increased during follow-up period but still remained significantly below the initial score ( p < 0.001). Conclusion: Radical surgery for deep endometriosis with bowel or bladder involvement leads to a reliable and persistent relief of pain symptoms. Especially deep dyspareunia and dyschezia might be eliminated by this procedure. #

One-stage, radical laparoscopic endometriosis excision involving three different organ systems: A case report from tertiary referral center

Journal of endometriosis and pelvic pain disorders, 2020

Introduction: We present a case of an extensive endometriosis involving left paracolpium and left parametrium, rectovaginal septum, urinary bladder, left interiliac region between artery and vein, left ureter and rectum, presenting as dysmenorrhoea, alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation and hydronephrosis. Methods: Laparoscopic surgery made by a multidisciplinary team consist of gynecologic, abdominal surgeon and urologist. Results: Successfully managed deep infiltrated endometriosis. Conclusion: The aim of this report is to demonstrate benefit of one-stage, minimally invasive radical surgical procedure performed in a tertiary referral center. To the best of our knowledge, this report presents an extremely complex case because we successfully managed deep infiltrating endometriosis in three different organ systems at the same time, using minimally invasive nerve-sparing technique. A case with the same constellation has not been published yet since reported cases of extrapelvic endometriosis chiefly address one organ system involvement.

Total laparoscopic bladder resection in the management of deep endometriosis: “take it or leave it.” Radicality versus persistence

International Urogynecology Journal, 2019

Background Bladder endometriosis (BE) is the most common external site of deep-infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) affecting the urinary tract. Frequently associated with other DIE lesions, it can be strongly related to a ventral spread of adenomyosis. Possible symptoms are urinary frequency, tenesmus and hematuria, and they are frequently related to DIE of the posterior and lateral compartment. Hormonal therapy can be used in non-symptomatic patients; conversely, in other cases surgical treatment is the management of choice. Methods Retrospective cohort study of a series of consecutive patients treated between September 2004 and December 2017 in a tertiary care referral center. Only full-thickness detrusor involvement was considered as BE. All patients underwent laparoscopic bladder resection with concomitant radical excision of DIE. Results BE was found in 264 patients and was associated with simultaneous bowel DIE requiring bowel resection in 140 patients (53%). Twenty-five patients (9.5%) had associated obstructive ureteral signs requiring ureteroneocystostomy. Mean hospital stay and time of catheter removal were 9.7 and 9.1 days, respectively. Postoperative major complications (< 28 days) were observed in 19 patients (7.2%). Follow-up was performed at 1, 6 and 12 months after surgery, with a 2.3% recurrence rate observed. Conclusions Laparoscopic partial cystectomy for BE is a feasible and safe technique, and experienced laparoscopic surgeons should consider it the gold standard treatment. Surgical eradication leads to excellent surgical outcomes in terms of reduction of symptoms and recurrence rates, considering the need to maintain an adenomyotic uterus for fertility purposes.