Laparoscopic ileocecal resection for bowel endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: Ileocecal endometriosis is a very rare entity, and its diagnosis is usually made during surgery for other endometriosis sites or, rarely, because of direct complications of ileal involvement. This study was designed to analyze perioperative and long-term outcomes after bowel resection for ileocecal endometriosis. METHODS: All patients who underwent surgery for ileocecal endometriosis between October 2004 and January 2008 were prospectively collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-one women (median age, 34 (range, 25-40) years) were identified. Ileocecal endometriosis was diagnosed during surgery in all patients, and it was associated with colorectal endometriosis in 29 patients (94%). All patients underwent laparoscopic ileocecal resection with no laparotomic conversion. Rectosigmoid or rectal resections was associated in 28 patients (90%) and nodulectomy for sigmoid endometriosis in 1 patient. Median duration of surgery was 301 (range, 90-480) min. Other associated surgical procedures included total hysterectomy (n = 3, 14%), ureterolysis (n = 7, 23%), excision of vesical (n = 4, 13%), vaginal (n = 8, 26%), and parametrial (n = 3, 14%) nodules. There was no mortality. Four patients (13%) required blood transfusions and one a reoperation for bleeding. In a patient who performed ureterolysis, a ureteral fistula occurred. The median hospital stay was 7 (range, 5-18) days. Long-term (>12 months) follow-up data were available for 18 patients. After a median follow-up of 27 months, in 12 of 18 patients (67%) defecation after surgery was normal. Only one patient developed recurrence, which is under medical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic ileocecal resection is safe and feasible and should be considered as part of surgery for endometriosis with radical intent.

The influence of adenomyosis in patients laparoscopically treated for deep endometriosis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: A strong association exists between adenomyosis and endometriosis and a common pathogenetic mechanism was proposed. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether and how the presence of concurrent adenomyosis can affect the outcome of laparoscopic excision of deep endometriosis. DESIGN: Data were retrospectively collected from our computerized medical records (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). SETTING: General hospital. INTERVENTION: Restrospective evaluation. PATIENTS: From January 2003 through July 2005, 40 consecutive patients affected by concomitant endometriosis and adenomyosis were included in group A and another 40 affected by endometriosis only were included in group B. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In group A, 20 women required bowel surgery (17 segmental and 3 full-thickness discoid resections) versus 16 patients in the other group (13 segmental bowel resections with end-to-end anastomosis and 3 discoid resections). Dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia after treatment improved (p<.01) in both groups, whereas dyschezia improved only in group A. The persistence of menometrorrhagia was more frequent in group B (p<.01). During follow-up, patients of group A underwent medical treatment for a longer time than those of group B (p<.001). Clinical detection of endometriosis recurrence was more frequent in patients with adenomyosis (p<.01), whereas no difference existed in the incidence of the recurrence detected by ultrasound. The overall number of pregnancies after surgery was significantly lower in the group with adenomyosis (p=.03). CONCLUSION: Complete excision of deep endometriosis is not always feasible because of adenomyosis. For this reason, preoperative imaging screening for adenomyosis could be included in the preoperative workup when extensive disease is clinically suspected.

Total laparoscopic hysterectomy in cases of very large uteri: a retrospective comparative study.

In this review, we assessed the feasibility of total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) in cases of very large uteri weighting more than 500 grams. We compared surgical outcomes and short term follow-up in 149 patients with the uterus weighing less than 350 g (group A: 40-350 g) and 100 patients with the uterus weighing more than 500 g (group B: 500-1550 g). We discovered no statistical difference between the 2 groups in terms of intraoperative complications (group A: 0%; group B: 2%) and postoperative stay (group A: 3.05 +/- 1.89 days; group B: 3.2 +/- 1.28 days). There were statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of operative time (group A: 101.3 +/- 34.3 min; group B: 149.1 +/- 57.2 min.; p <.0001) and postoperative hospital stay length (group A: 2.8 +/- 0.7 days; group B: 3.5 +/- 1.7 days; p <.0001). No major complications occurred in either group. Postoperative minor complications were more frequent in group B (group A: 8.7%; group B: 18%; p = .03). Median time to well-being was comparable in both groups. In conclusion, TLH is a feasible surgical technique also in cases of very large uteri. An increase in operative time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay length, and postoperative minor complications can be expected as the uterine weight increases.

Laparoscopic treatment of deep endometriosis with segmental colorectal resection: short-term morbidity.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Adequate surgical treatment of severe deep endometriosis requires complete excision of all implants, but the modality of bowel resection is still debated. We describe the results of our experience as a tertiary care endometriosis referral center in complete laparoscopic management of deep pelvic endometriosis with bowel involvement. DESIGN: A prospective single-center study (Canadian Task Force classification II-1). SETTING: In Sacro Cuore General Hospital of Negrar, Italy. PATIENTS: One hundred ninety-two women treated with laparoscopic excision of deep endometriosis and segmental colorectal resections were evaluated. INTERVENTION: From January 2003 through December 2005 we registered all consecutive patients laparoscopically treated for deep endometriosis who also were having segmental bowel resection. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data analysis included age, weight, body mass index, history of endometriosis, preoperative symptoms, parity, infertility, operative procedures, operating time, conversion, intraoperative and postoperative morbidity, recovery of bladder and bowel function, and discharge from hospital. We report our results in terms of feasibility and short-term morbidity. Radicality was achieved in 91.5% of patients. Laparoconversion occurred in 5 cases (2.6%). Major complications that required repeat operation occurred in 20 cases (10.4%): Nine anastomosis leakages (4.7%), 3 uroperitoneum (1.6%), 4 hemoperitoneum (2.1%), 1 pelvic abscess (0.5%), 1 bowel perforation, 1 intestinal obstruction, and 1 sepsis. Minor complications occurred in 50 patients (26%). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic segmental colorectal resection for endometriosis is feasible and, in hospitals with necessary experience, can be proposed to selected patients who are informed of the risk of complications.