Employing Laparoscopic Surgery for Endometriosis

Systematic use of intraureteral indocyanine green: a game changer in endometriosis surgery. A proof-of-concept study

BACKGROUND

Endometriosis of the distal segment of the uterosacral ligament may lead to a displaced ureter in the surgical field and must be identified before safe disease excision can be carried out. The aim of this study is to investigate the benefit of the systematic use of preoperative intraureteral indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence injection in patients undergoing endometriosis surgery.

METHOD

In this proof-of-concept, monocentric, observational, cohort study data were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. Patients underwent laparoscopic surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis with suspected ureteral involvement between January 2022 and December 2023. Using the propensity score matching (PSM) in a 1:1 matching ratio, patients who underwent preoperative ICG injection were compared with those who did not in terms of ureterolysis length and duration, and operative time.

RESULTS

The mean length of ureterolysis was shorter in the ICG group compared to the non-ICG group (p < 0.001). The ICG group also had shorter ureterolysis duration (p < 0.001) and operative time (p = 0.02). No complications were reported at mean 6.8-month follow-up visit.

CONCLUSIONS

The systematic use of intraureteral ICG prior to uterosacral ligaments endometriosis surgery may be safe and could assist in reducing the length of ureterolysis and operative time. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Endometriosis of the appendix: prevalence, associated lesions, and proposal of pathogenetic hypotheses. A retrospective cohort study with prospectively collected data

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of endometriosis of the appendix and the association with other pelvic localizations of the disease and to provide pathogenesis hypotheses.

METHODS

Monocentric, observational, retrospective, cohort study. Patients undergoing laparoscopic endometriosis surgery in our tertiary referral center were consecutively enrolled. The prevalence of the different localizations of pelvic endometriosis including appendix involvement detected during surgery was collected. Included patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of appendiceal endometriosis. Women with a history of appendectomy were excluded.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Four hundred-sixty patients were included for data analysis. The prevalence of appendiceal endometriosis was 2.8%. In patients affected by endometriosis of the appendix, concomitant ovarian and/or bladder endometriosis were more frequently encountered, with prevalence of 53.9% (vs 21.0% in non-appendiceal endometriosis group, p = 0.005) and 38.4% (vs 11.4%, p = 0.003), respectively. Isolated ovarian endometriosis was significantly associated to appendiceal disease compared to isolated uterosacral ligament (USL) endometriosis or USL and ovarian endometriosis combined (46.2% vs 15.4% vs 7.7%, p < 0.001). Poisson regression analysis revealed a 4.1-fold and 4.4-fold higher risk of ovarian and bladder endometriosis, respectively, and a 0.1-fold risk of concomitant USL endometriosis in patients with appendiceal involvement.

CONCLUSION

Involvement of the appendix is not uncommon among patients undergoing endometriosis surgery. Significant association was detected between appendiceal, ovarian, and bladder endometriosis that may be explained by disease dissemination coming from endometrioma fluid shedding. Given the prevalence of appendiceal involvement, counseling regarding the potential need for appendectomy during endometriosis surgery should be considered.

Postmenopausal endometriosis: a challenging condition beyond menopause

IMPORTANCE AND OBJECTIVE

Postmenopausal endometriosis is a complex condition that challenges the conventional belief that endometriosis resolves with menopause. Despite the cessation of menstruation, a subset of women continues to experience or develop endometriosis-related symptoms during the postmenopausal period. Thus, this review aimed to shed light on postmenopausal endometriosis, exploring its clinical features, diagnostic considerations, management approaches, and the potential impact on women's health.

METHODS

PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were used for the research, with only articles in English language, using the following terms: "postmenopausal endometriosis," "menopause," "management," "treatment," and "quality of life," from inception to 2023.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The clinical features of postmenopausal endometriosis include persistent or recurrent pelvic pain, dyspareunia, bowel, or urinary symptoms and, occasionally, abnormal vaginal bleeding. The absence of menstrual cycles presents a diagnostic challenge, as the traditional diagnostic criteria for endometriosis rely on menstrual patterns. Visual cues may be less evident, and the symptoms often overlap with other gynecological conditions, necessitating a thorough evaluation to differentiate postmenopausal endometriosis from other potential causes. Management approaches for postmenopausal endometriosis encompass surgical intervention, hormonal therapies, pain management, and individualized care. Postmenopausal endometriosis significantly impacts the quality of life, sexual health, and long-term well-being of women. Understanding the clinical features, diagnostic challenges, and management approaches of postmenopausal endometriosis is crucial for healthcare professionals to provide effective care and to improve the quality of life of women affected by this condition.

Adolescence and endometriosis: symptoms, ultrasound signs and early diagnosis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the ultrasonographic presence of different forms of endometriosis and the associated clinical symptoms in adolescent women.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

SETTING

University hospital.

PATIENT(S)

Two hundred and seventy women aged 12-20 years referred to the gynecologic ultrasound unit from January 2014 to June 2019.

INTERVENTION(S)

Two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and power Doppler ultrasound (US) pelvic examination (transvaginal or transrectal in pre-sexually active adolescents) were performed in all included adolescents. Medical history was collected for each patient before the scan.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

All possible locations of endometriosis evaluated and recorded using a dedicated ultrasound mapping sheet and severity of painful symptoms evaluated through a visual analogue scale (VAS).

RESULT(S)

Dysmenorrhea was detected in 147 (54.4%) of 270 patients and heavy menstrual bleeding in 76 (28.1%) of 270. At least one ultrasound feature of endometriosis was identified in 36 (13.3%) of 270 cases. Ovarian endometriomas were found in 22 (11%) patients, adenomyosis in 16 (5.2%), and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) in 10 (3.7%). Ultrasound signs of endometriosis were found in 21% of adolescents who reported dysmenorrhea and 33% with dyspareunia. The presence of DIE at ultrasound was associated with bowel symptoms in 33% of patients and associated with dyspareunia in 25% of patients.

CONCLUSION(S)

The detection rate of pelvic endometriotic lesions at ultrasound was 13%. The rates of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and heavy menstrual bleeding in adolescents with endometriosis ultrasound signs were statistically significantly higher compared with those without. In patients with dysmenorrhea, the detection rate of pelvic endometriosis at ultrasound increased to 20%. Professionals involved with teens should be aware of the clinical presentation of endometriosis to reduce the delay between the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis, referring these young women to dedicated centers.

Clinical aspects and the quality of life among women with endometriosis and infertility: a cross-sectional study

Background

The quality of life (QoL) of patients with endometriosis and infertility was assessed in different stages and correlated with the clinical features of the cases.

Methods

The present study was a cross-sectional study; 106 women were included, divided in two endometriosis groups (Grade I/II, 26 women, and Grade II/IV, 74 women). All participants attended the Endometriosis and Infertility Outpatient Clinic of the Instituto Ideia Fértil de Saúde Reprodutiva, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, São Paulo, Brazil, were and responded to the Short Form (SF) Health Survey-36. Convenience sampling was used due to the authors’ access to the study population; however, the sample number was calculated to be sufficient for 95% power in both groups.

Results

Homogeneity was observed between Grade I/II and Grade III/IV staging, with similar mean ages (35.27, ±3.64 years and 34.04, ±3.39 years, respectively, p = 0.133); types of infertility (p = 0.535); infertility time (p = 0.654); degrees of pain (p = 0.849); and symptoms common to endometriosis, namely, dysmenorrhea (p = 0.841), dyspareunia (0.466), chronic pelvic pain (p = 0.295), and intestinal (p = 0.573) or urinary (p = 0.809) diseases. Comparisons of median scores in the QoL domains demonstrated that the distributions of QoL and clinical symptoms were significantly related between the types of dyspareunia and the following domains: physical functioning (p = 0.017), role- emotional (p = 0.013), and general health (p = 0.001). Regarding pain outside of menstruation, there was significance in the pain domain (p = 0.017), and degree of pain was significance in physical functioning (p = 0.005) and role-physical (p = 0.011) domains.

Conclusions

The present study pointed out that it is not the stage of endometriosis that interferes in the quality of life of women with endometriosis and infertility but rather the clinical manifestations, such as dyspareunia and pain. Thus, we can conclude that the patient’s perception of the disease should be considered in health care and that the losses are independent of the degree of endometriosis in this population with the aggravating factor of infertility.

Bowel Endometriosis: Current Perspectives on Diagnosis and Treatment

Endometriosis is a chronic condition primarily affecting young women of reproductive age. Although some women with bowel endometriosis may be asymptomatic patients typically report a myriad of symptoms such as alteration in bowel habits (constipation/diarrhoea) dyschezia, dysmenorrhoea and dyspareunia in addition to infertility. To date, there are no clear guidelines on the evaluation of patients with suspected bowel endometriosis. Several techniques have been proposed including transvaginal and/or transrectal ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and double-contrast barium enema. These different imaging modalities provide greater information regarding presence, location and extent of endometriosis ensuring patients are adequately informed whilst also optimizing preoperative planning. In cases where surgical management is indicated, surgery should be performed by experienced surgeons, in centres with access to multidisciplinary care. Treatment should be tailored according to patient symptoms and wishes with a view to excising as much disease as possible, whilst at the same time preserving organ function. In this review article current perspectives on diagnosis and management of bowel endometriosis are discussed.

Uterine manipulator in total laparoscopic hysterectomy: safety and usefulness

The aim of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of uterine manipulators in facilitating total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH). A literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, UpToDate, SpringerLink, ClinicalKey and Elsevier ScienceDirect databases was performed, and articles describing TLH with or without the use of uterine manipulators were retrieved. Complications related to the use of uterine manipulators are numerous, and although uterine manipulator seems to facilitate TLH, the procedure without a uterine manipulator seems to have a comparable safety and effectiveness, although evidence based on a direct comparison of the two approaches is limited without available controlled trials. Uterine manipulator may provide support in cases of large uteri, severe endometriosis, recto vaginal adhesions and regional anesthesia, while its use may increase complications in cases of vaginal stenosis and nulliparity. Therefore, to perform TLH, the surgeon should individualize for each case if uterine manipulator is needed and which manipulator best suits the surgical procedure requirements and case characteristics. Further studies comparing the two approaches are mandatory.

Endometriotic Mass After Hysterectomy in a 61 Year Old Post-menopausal Woman: A Case Report and Update

Endometriosis is a common, hormone-dependent gynecologic disease. Undiagnosed in large proportion of women, managing therapies depend on the impact of quality of life and includes hormonal treatment and pelvic surgery. Less likely endometriosis can occur in post-menopausal women. Malignant transformation of endometriosis is a rare but well-described process, most of time occurring in the ovary, and justifies the practitioner not to underestimate this pathology. We present a case of a 61 year old woman with a symptomatic endometriotic pelvic mass, status post hysterectomy, with no history of endometriosis diagnosed beforehand.

Effect of Anterior Compartment Endometriosis Excision on Infertility

Background and Objectives:

Laparoscopic surgical excision of bladder nodules has been demonstrated to be effective in relieving associated painful symptoms; the data are lacking concerning the impact of anterior compartment endometriosis on infertility. We conducted this study to evaluate whether or not the surgical excision of deep endometriosis affecting the anterior compartment plays a role in restoring fertility.

Methods:

This multicentre, retrospective study included a group of 55 patients presenting with otherwise-unexplained infertility who had undergone laparoscopic excision of anterior compartment endometriosis with histological confirmation. Patient medical records and operative reports were reviewed. Telephone interviews were conducted for long-term followup of fertility outcomes.

Results:

The pregnancy rate following surgical excision of endometriotic lesions was 44% (n = 11) among those with anterior compartment involvement alone and 50% (n = 15) in case of posterior lesions association without any significant difference. The symptoms related to bladder endometriosis resolved in the 84.2% of the cases with a recurrence rate of 1.8% at the 2-year followup not requiring further surgery.

Conclusion:

Laparoscopic excision of anterior compartment endometriosis is effective in restoring fertility in patients with otherwise-unexplained infertility and in treating endometriosis-related symptoms.

Impact of endometriosis on surgical outcomes and complications of total laparoscopic hysterectomy

PURPOSE

Total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) in the case of endometriosis may be extremely challenging. Our aim has been to analyze perioperative details and complications of TLH in women with vs. women without endometriosis.

METHODS

Consecutive women who underwent TLH for endometriosis (endometriosis group) were compared with consecutive patients who had TLH for other conditions (controls) in terms of perioperative outcomes. Patients in the endometriosis group were analyzed, according to the severity of the disease.

RESULTS

One-hundred and twelve women in the endometriosis group, 29 (25.9 %) with minimal-mild, and 83 (74.1 %) with moderate-severe stage disease (rAFS score), respectively, were compared with 572 controls. Conversion rate was 0.8 vs. 0.5 % (P = 0.51), and median operative time was 75 vs. 55 min (pxxx = x) in the endometriosis group vs.

CONTROLS

Intraoperative complications were similar between groups (P = 0.56). Postoperative complications occurred in 10 (12.3 %) women in the endometriosis group vs. 12 (3.3 %) among the controls (P = 0.002). The severity of complications according to Clavien-Dindo classification system was higher in the endometriosis group (Clavien-Dindo >2: 7.5 vs. 1.9 %). The risk of organ lesions, urinary lesions, postoperative complications, and severe adverse events was significantly higher in women with moderate-severe endometriosis vs.

CONTROLS

No differences between patients with minimal-mild endometriosis and controls were found.

CONCLUSION(S)

TLH in the case of endometriosis is associated with longer operative time and an almost fourfold increase in the risk and severity of complications compared with controls. In particular, the adjunctive risk of adverse events is specific for moderate/severe-stage disease but not for minimal/mild endometriosis.

Parasitic Myomas and an Adenomyoma Obstructing the Ureter After Power Morcellation of Myomas and Endometriotic Nodule Resection

BACKGROUND

The use of power morcellation (PM) in abdominal and pelvic surgery has been discouraged and even banned in some institutions because of the risk of spreading malignant cells, although some authorities maintain that PM can be an appropriate tool for selected patients deemed to be at low risk of malignancy.

CASE

A 42-year-old woman developed parasitic myomas and an adenomyoma obstructing the right ureter after laparoscopic excision of multiple myomas and deep infiltrating endometriosis using PM. Laparoscopic excision of the parasitic myomas and removal of the adenomyoma relieved the obstruction of the ureter.

CONCLUSION

Although there is reasonable concern about the use of PM spreading malignant disease, benign disease can also be spread by PM and can cause significant complications. Use of PM should be restricted as much as possible.