Management of stage III and IV endometriosis: a 10-year experience

Effects of laparoscopic radical surgery for deep endometriosis on endometriosis-related pelvic pain

Deep endometriosis is associated with severe painful symptoms that sometimes impair the quality of life in women of reproductive age. Medical therapy does not provide for adequate pain relief, and an effective management option to reduce pelvic pain appears to be complete laparoscopic removal of as many endometriotic lesions as possible. In this study, we investigated the usefulness and risks of radical laparoscopic removal of deep endometriosis for patients diagnosed as stage III/IV endometriosis during laparoscopic surgery. Forty-seven consecutive patients undergoing conservative laparoscopic surgery alone (adhesiotomy and cystectomy of ovarian endometriosis but not removal of deep endometriotic lesion; non-DEL removal group) and 151 consecutive patients undergoing radical laparoscopic removal of deep endometriotic lesions combined with conservative surgery (DEL removal group) were compared. As a result, significant improvements in pain were obtained in both groups, however, the degree of improvement was significantly higher and the rate of recurrence was significantly lower in the DEL removal group. The addition of radical removal of deep endometriotic lesions to conservative laparoscopic surgery markedly reduces the severity of dysmenorrhea and the rate of recurrent pelvic pain. Although the surgical procedure is technically demanding, the levels of peri-operative complications and morbidity are acceptable.

The prevalence of fimbrial pathology in patients with early stages of endometriosis

STUDY OBJECTIVE

The presence of fimbrial pathology in advanced endometriosis is clearly understood. However, little is known about the prevalence of fimbrial pathology in early stages of endometriosis. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of fimbrial pathology in patients with infertility with early stages of endometriosis.

DESIGN

Historical cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II/III).

SETTING

Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS

The study group (Group 1) consisted of 315 infertile women who were found to have stage I or stage II endometriosis, and the control group (Group 2) consisted of 152 infertile women without endometriosis (Group 2).

INTERVENTION

Laparoscopic evaluation for the presence and type of fimbrial pathology.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The prevalence of fimbrial pathology was significantly higher in infertile patients with early stages of endometriosis (50.2%) compared with infertile patients with no endometriosis (17.8%, p <.0001).

CONCLUSION

These preliminary data suggest the presence of fimbrial pathology in many patients with early stages of endometriosis. Such pathology may act as a mechanical factor interfering with the ovum pick-up mechanism.

Endometriosis: preoperative and postoperative medical treatment

The quality of the evidence that supports the use of medical treatment before conservative surgery for endometriosis is manifestly poor, and no recommendations can be made based on the results of the published studies. There are practical advantages inherent to this schedule, but whether this translates into better conception rates and reduced pain recurrence rates is unproven. The effect of drug therapy after surgery can be assessed better as data from seven true randomized, controlled trials are available. The results of the current review do not support the notion that suppressing ovarian activity postoperatively increases the long-term pregnancy rate. As far as pelvic pain is concerned, more data are needed to verify the reduced symptoms recurrence rate found in four trials in women who were allocated to postoperative medical therapy, particularly in view of the different results obtained in some of the considered studies. The observed differences among various drugs used before or after surgery are limited in clinical terms and, in the absence of formal randomized comparisons, are difficult to interpret. Because of their tolerable side effects and limited cost, progestins with or without estrogens should be considered strongly as first-line postoperative medical treatment if and when suppression of ovulation after conservative surgery is deemed opportune.

Comparison of reoperation for moderate (stage III) and severe (stage IV) endometriosis-related infertility with in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of reoperation for stage III or IV endometriosis-related infertility versus IVF-ET.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis.

SETTING

In vitro fertilization-embryo transfer unit and tertiary infertility clinic.

PATIENTS

Twenty-three couples with stage III or IV endometriosis-related infertility undergoing IVF-ET and 18 women undergoing reoperation for stage III or IV disease, both groups undergoing treatment after failed initial surgery to restore fertility.

RESULTS

The cumulative pregnancy rate (CPR) after reoperation for stage III or IV endometriosis-related infertility after 3, 7, and 9 months was 5.9 percent, 18.1 percent and 24.4 percent, respectively. The cumulative PR after one and two cycles of IVF-ET with stage III or IV endometriosis was 33.3 percent and 69.6 percent, respectively. The cumulative PR after one cycle of IVF-ET was higher than with reoperation 33.3 percent versus 24.4 percent. After two cycles the cumulative PR was significantly higher than reoperation 69.6 percent versus 24.4 percent. The mean number of oocytes retrieved was 8.5 +/- 4.6, the mean number of embryos was 4.8 +/- 2.9, and the fertilization rate was 64 percent +/- 21.8 percent. The PR per cycle, per oocyte retrieval and per ET was 38 percent, 42 percent, and 44 percent, respectively, with the implantation rate being 16 percent. The live birth rate per oocyte retrieval and per ET was 29.7 percent and 34.4 percent, respectively. No statistically significant difference could be demonstrated with regard to the fertilization, implantation, nor pregnancy or live birth rates, as compared with IVF-ET outcome with tubal infertility.

CONCLUSION

If initial surgery fails to restore fertility in patients with moderate (stage III) or severe (stage IV) endometriosis-related infertility, IVF-ET is an effective alternative; reoperation for asymptomatic patients offers little added benefit.