Long-term follow-up after conservative surgery for rectovaginal endometriosis

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term results in patients who received conservative surgical treatment for rectovaginal endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed the follow-up data for 83 women who underwent surgery for rectovaginal endometriosis. The inclusion criteria were age 20 to 42 years, moderate-to-severe pain symptoms, conservative treatment with retention of the uterus, and at least 1 ovary; the follow-up period was > or =12 months. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression were used to calculate recurrence rates. RESULTS: The cumulative rates of pain recurrence, clinical or sonographic recurrence, and new treatment were 28%, 34%, and 27%, respectively. The younger patients had the higher risk of recurrence. Pregnancy had protective effects against the recurrence of symptoms and a need for a new treatment. Patients who underwent bowel resection had fewer recurrences. CONCLUSION: Segmental resection and anastomosis of the bowel, when necessary, improves the outcome without affecting chances of conception. Higher recurrence rates in younger patients seems to justify a more radical treatment in this group of women.     

Histopathology-based combined surgical approach to rectovaginal endometriosis

Objective

To describe a new surgical approach to rectovaginal endometriosis. Rectovaginal endometriosis can be infiltrative or superficial involving the bowel. Only infiltrative disease should be treated by intestinal resection. However, infiltration of endometriosis cannot be confirmed by preoperative imaging techniques.

Methods

A total of 48 women with infiltrative rectovaginal endometriosis were included in this prospective study. Surgery was performed using a newly developed technique. All bowel resections were indicated according to operative findings and not on the basis of preoperative imaging technique results.

Results

The decision for rectosigmoidal resection was based on the results of the intraoperative dissection of the rectovaginal septum. Histologically, infiltration of the ventral bowel wall was confirmed in all cases.

Conclusion

This new surgical technique for the treatment of rectovaginal endometriosis allows precise diagnosis and treatment with low morbidity. A resection of the mesorectum is not necessary because the endometriotic nodules are always located on the antimesenteric surface of the bowel.     

Vaginal danazol for women with rectovaginal endometriosis and pain symptoms persisting after insertion of a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with vaginal danazol in improving the pain symptoms caused by rectovaginal endometriosis that persist after insertion of a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD).

Methods

This pilot observational study included 15 women with rectovaginal endometriosis and pain symptoms persisting after LNG-IUD insertion. Vaginal danazol (100 mg per day) was self-administered for 6 months. The intensity of pain symptoms and the volume of rectovaginal endometriotic nodules were evaluated.

Results

Twelve women were satisfied or very satisfied with the treatment. After treatment with vaginal danazol for 3 months, there was a significant decrease in the intensity of pain symptoms compared with their intensity before the administration of danazol. The intensity of pain symptoms decreased further at 6-month follow-up. The volume of the rectovaginal nodules decreased after treatment with vaginal danazol for 6 months (1.7 ± 0.8 cm³) compared with the baseline volume (2.3 ± 0.9 cm³; P < 0.001). Adverse effects of the treatment were minimal and well tolerated.

Conclusion

Although a placebo effect cannot be excluded, the results indicate that vaginal danazol decreases the severity of endometriosis-related pain symptoms after LNG-IUD insertion.     

Infertility in patients with bowel endometriosis

The impact of bowel endometriosis on fertility is unclear, and the optimal management of patients who wish to conceive is not well-defined. Infertile patients with bowel endometriosis may either undergo surgery to enhance fertility or assisted reproductive technology (ART). It is necessary to consider that some complications may occur in patients undergoing ART because of the ovarian stimulation needed during these procedures. Interpretation of the available data on fertility outcomes after colorectal surgery for deep endometriosis is difficult as several studies do not distinguish patients with real infertility from those wishing to conceive without proven infertility and outcomes of complex surgery are operator-dependent. The effect of bowel surgery to increase the likelihood of spontaneous conception is yet to be established. Limited data are available on fertility outcomes after the removal of endometriotic nodules without the excision of bowel endometriotic implants.     

Long-term follow-up after ureteral reimplantation in patients with severe deep infiltrating endometriosis

Objective

To investigate the intraoperative features and long-term postoperative results of patients with ureteral endometriosis who underwent ureteral reimplantation.

Study design

In this retrospective study, we reviewed records of all patients with ureteral endometriosis treated by ureteral reimplantation. Pre-, intra- and post-operative information was collected.

Results

Of patients operated for endometriosis, seven were diagnosed with severe ureteral endometriosis and underwent ureteral reimplantation. Psoas hitch was the preferred technique for the ureteral reimplantation. During a mean postoperative follow up of 42.3 ± 20.0 months, all but one patient reported significant symptomatic improvement. None of the patients needed additional medical or surgical treatment and no recurrence was noted.

Conclusion

Ureteral reimplantation performed by a multidisciplinary surgical team is a suitable technique in selected cases, gives good long-term results and has no need for repeated surgical treatment.     

Morbidity and reversal rate of ileostomy after bowel resection during Visceral-Peritoneal Debulking (VPD) in patients with stage IIIC-IV ovarian cancer

Objective

To investigate the morbidity of diverting loop ileostomy (DLI) performed during Visceral Peritoneal Debulking (VPD) for stage IIIC-IV ovarian cancer and to report the rate, timing, and morbidity of DLI reversal.

Surgical outcome and long-term follow up after laparoscopic rectosigmoid resection in women with deep infiltrating endometriosis

The aim of this study was to assess the long-term outcome of treating severely symptomatic women with deep infiltrating intestinal endometriosis by laparoscopic segmental rectosigmoid resection. Detailed intraoperative and postoperative records and questionnaires (preoperatively, 1 month postoperatively and every 6 months for 3 years) were collected from 22 women. The estimated blood loss during surgery was 290 ± 162 ml (range 180–600), and average hospital stay was 8 days (range 6–19). One woman required blood transfusion after surgery. Two cases were converted to laparotomy. One woman had early dehiscence of the anastomosis. Six months after surgery, there was a significant reduction of symptom scores (greater than 50% for most types of pain) related to intestinal localisation of endometriosis ( P < 0.05). Score improvements were maintained during the whole period of follow up. Noncyclic pelvic pain scores showed significant reductions ( P < 0.05) after 6 and 12 months, but there was a high recurrence rate later. Dysmenorrhoea and dyspareunia improved in 18/21 and 14/18 women with preoperative symptoms, respectively. Constipation, diarrhoea and rectal bleeding improved in all affected women for the whole period of follow up. Laparoscopic segmental rectosigmoid resection seems safe and effective in women with deep infiltrating colorectal endometriosis resulting in significant reductions in painful and dysfunctional symptoms associated with deep bowel involvement.     

A long-term follow-up study of women with asymptomatic endometriosis diagnosed incidentally at sterilization

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether asymptomatic endometriosis diagnosed in connection with tubal sterilization is likely to cause symptoms later in the woman's life. DESIGN: Controlled, clinical follow-up study of women who were examined for endometriosis in connection with tubal sterilization performed between 1986 and 1989. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): Thirty-nine women with mostly minimal endometriosis discovered at sterilization and 157 control women with no endometriosis discovered at sterilization. INTERVENTION(S): Interview in 2001 by a posted questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Report on pain, pelvic operations, menopausal status, and use of hormone replacement therapy. RESULT(S): Pelvic pain was more frequently reported by controls than by women with endometriosis (28% vs. 6%). There was no significant difference between the groups concerning dysmenorrhea, premenstrual pain, or dyspareunia, nor was there any significant difference in the hysterectomy rate. CONCLUSION(S): There is little risk that asymptomatic, minimal endometriosis found incidentally will become symptomatic.     

Letrozole and norethisterone acetate in colorectal endometriosis

Objective

Up to now limited attention has been given to the medical treatment of bowel endometriosis. This study evaluates the efficacy of aromatase inhibitors and norethisterone acetate in treating pain and gastrointestinal symptoms caused by bowel endometriosis.

Study design

This prospective pilot study included six women with colorectal endometriosis; all women had intestinal nodules infiltrating at least the muscularis propria of the bowel and did not have a stenosis of the bowel lumen >60%; the patients suffered from pain and intestinal symptoms. The study subjects received letrozole (2.5 mg/day) and norethisterone acetate (2.5 mg/day) continuously for 6 months. The presence and intensity of symptoms were evaluated before starting the treatment, and after 3 and 6 months of treatment.

Results

The double-drug regimen improved pain, non-menstrual pelvic pain, deep dyspareunia, dyschezia, symptoms mimicking diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal cramping, abdominal bloating and passage of mucus in the stools, and 67% of the patients declared that the treatment improved their gastrointestinal symptoms.

Conclusions

The administration of letrozole and norethisterone acetate reduces pain and gastrointestinal symptoms of women with colorectal endometriosis, particularly when patients suffer from symptoms mimicking diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.     

Fertility and pain outcomes following laparoscopic segmental bowel resection for colorectal endometriosis: a review

Intestinal involvement in endometriosis is thought to occur in up to 12% of all endometriosis cases. While colorectal resection is being increasingly advocated as a feasible management option in patients with severe disease, there still remains significant resistance towards this surgery. This article aims to review the current literature to determine the pain and fertility outcomes following segmental bowel resection for colorectal endometriosis.