Nomogram predicting the likelihood of live-birth rate after surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis without bowel involvement in women who wish to conceive: A retrospective study

Surgical treatment of deep endometriosis: Impact on spontaneous conception

Deep endometriosis (DE) is the most severe form of endometriosis and is commonly associated with infertility. Surgical treatment of DE appears to increase chances of spontaneous conception in appropriately selected patients wishing to conceive. Identifying, however, the exact impact of DE, and its surgical removal, on natural conception is highly challenging. The surgical approach should be favoured in symptomatic patients with pregnancy intention. Limited data from infertile patients suggest that outcomes may not differ from patients without known infertility. Complex DE surgery carries a risk of serious complications, therefore, it should be performed in centers of expertise. Such complications may, however, not have a significant negative impact on fertility outcomes, according to limited available data. Data on obstetric outcomes of spontaneous conceptions after DE surgery are too scarce. In asymptomatic, infertile patients the debate between primary surgery or Artifial Reproductive Technology is ongoing, until randomized studies report their results.

Deep Endometriosis and Infertility: What Is the Impact of Surgery?

In women with deep endometriosis, the spontaneous fertility rate might range from 2 to 10%. The optimal management of these women is still an area of debate. Therefore, this review aims to explore the literature on the impact of deep endometriosis surgery on reproductive outcomes and pregnancy rates in women with and without prior infertility. A total of 392 articles were identified through database searching. Twenty-three studies were eligible to be included in the review. A total of 1548 women were identified, 814 of whom became pregnant, with a mean pregnancy rate of 52.6% (95% CI 49.7-63%). Our review suggests that surgery may improve fertility outcomes. Due to the variability in the studies, it is impossible to stratify fertility outcomes of surgery by the localization of deep endometriosis. More investigations are needed to determine whether surgical management should be first-intention or limited to the failure of medically assisted reproduction treatment.

Association of Preoperative Enzian Score with Postoperative Fertility in Patients with Deep Pelvic Endometriosis

INTRODUCTION

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a negative impact on fertility. The Enzian classification provides a precise description of deep pelvic endometriotic lesions, especially in the retroperitoneal area, from preoperative pelvic MRI scans. However, it is not known if it is correlated with postoperative fertility.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine if there is an association between the preoperative Enzian score and postoperative fertility after deep pelvic endometriosis surgery.

DESIGN

We conducted a descriptive, retrospective study using information from the ENDOREN database.

SETTING

This was a retrospective study at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Rennes University Hospital (France) from January 2013 to May 2019 PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: We used information from the ENDOREN database that included all women who underwent surgery for deep endometriosis and wish to conceive. This surgery was intended in a view to achieve a complete removal of endometriosis.

MEASUREMENTS

The Enzian score was calculated from preoperative MRI scans, and total, spontaneous, and after In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) live births and pregnancies outcomes were collected from the patients'computerized medical records. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight patients were included. The live-birth rate was 35% (24/68). According to the Enzian classification, 25 patients (35%) were classified in compartment A, 64 patients (94%) in compartment B, and 27 (40%) in compartment C. In multivariate analysis, positive predictor of live birth was single Enzian B score (OR=4.7[1.21; 18.81], p=0.03), negative predictors were uterine adenomyosis and a history of endometriosis surgery. In multivariate analysis, positive predictor of spontaneous live birth was EFI score ≥7 (OR =22.434; CI [1.138; 442.190]). In multivariate analysis, positive predictor was Enzian A score (OR=15.9[2.2; 114.7], p=0.006), and negative predictors was uterine adenomyosis and Enzian B score (OR=0.01[0; 0.495], p=0.02) for live birth after IVF.

CONCLUSION

The present retrospective study cannot strongly conclude about fertility and correlation with Enzian score because the groups are too small. However, it seems that when solely the compartment B is involved by endometriosis, complete full removal of endometriosis leads to better post-operative live births results. Other studies must be done to determine if Enzian classification based on preoperative pelvic MRI could be clinical value in the decision-making strategy for managing infertile patients with deep pelvic endometriosis.