[Intestinal endometriosis. Current status]. / Endometriosis intestinal. Estado actual.

Endometriosis affects a wide spectrum of premenopausal women. Intestinal involvement, affecting mainly the large bowel and sometimes the small bowel, is much less frequent. Diagnosis is relatively straightforward in women with long standing pelvic endometriosis but is difficult in acute intestinal obstruction, since a diagnosis of endometriosis is not often considered in this entity. We performed an exhaustive review of the medical literature, including the option of medical treatment, which is rarely effective in intestinal endometriosis. In most patients with intestinal symptoms, the disease is so severe that surgical treatment is required. Recent studies indicate that the most effective approach is laparoscopic. We analyze the most important classical and recent series of patients and discuss treatment results.

Endometriosis intestinal. Estado actual / Intestinal endometriosis. Current status

La endometriosis es un proceso que afecta a un amplio sector de la población femenina en edad premenopáusica, y a un pequeño porcentaje de ellas les afecta el intestino, principalmente el grueso y más raramente el delgado. Su diagnóstico es relativamente sencillo en el contexto clínico de una paciente con una endometriosis pelviana florida y con clínica de larga evolución, pero es muy difícil en la situación de oclusión intestinal aguda, ya que su rareza hace que generalmente no se piense en este proceso y se planteen por ello serios problemas diagnósticos y terapéuticos. Se realiza una revisión exhaustiva de la literatura médica y del tratamiento médico actual, que es raramente eficaz en el manejo de la endometriosis intestinal como tal. En la mayoría de los casos, cuando se producen síntomas digestivos, la afección es tan grave que deberá realizarse el tratamiento quirúrgico, y parece, a la luz de los trabajos actuales, que la vía de abordaje más adecuada es la laparoscópica. Se analizan las series más importantes, clásicas y actuales, y sus resultados en el tratamiento de este proceso (AU)

Endometriosis affects a wide spectrum of premenopausal women. Intestinal involvement, affecting mainly the large bowel and sometimes the small bowel, is much less frequent. Diagnosis is relatively straightforward in women with long standing pelvic endometriosis but is difficult in acute intestinal obstruction, since a diagnosis of endometriosis is not often considered in this entity. We performed an exhaustive review of the medical literature, including the option of medical treatment, which is rarely effective in intestinal endometriosis. In most patients with intestinal symptoms, the disease is so severe that surgical treatment is required. Recent studies indicate that the most effective approach is laparoscopic. We analyze the most important classical and recent series of patients and discuss treatment results (AU)