Search

Purpose: To analyze the follow-up results of patients suffering from symptomatic early-stage endometriosis after a consistent laparoscopic peritoneal stripping of the altered peritoneum (peritoneal endometriosis and surrounding inflamed tissue) was performed. This type of endometriosis is resistant to medical therapy and/or impairs fertility., Methods: Using our prospectively maintained database, we were able to identify all symptomatic women with the suspicion of only peritoneal endometriosis who underwent laparoscopy at our endometriosis center over a period of 5 years. All procedures were carried out in a standardized fashion by one single surgeon, who is highly experienced in minimal invasive surgery, and included a suspended hormonal pretreatment for 2 months. Postoperative outcomes including complications, fertility and recurrence rates were analysed., Results: Laparoscopic peritonectomy was performed on 94 women. Follow-up data were available in 87% of these cases. At the time of surgery, almost all patients tested showed signs of stage I or II endometriosis (44.7 and 48.9%, respectively). More than three-quarters of the women reported pain relief, inter alia, due to the post-surgical hormonal therapy. About one-third of the patients wanted to have children after the procedure. 62% of them became pregnant and the majority did so without the need for assisted reproductive therapy. In seven women a re-operation was performed., Conclusion: According to our data, a consistent excision of altered peritoneum followed by adjuvant hormonal therapy and multimodal concepts results in better outcomes for the patient, particularly in regards to pregnancy and recurrence rates.

This is a case report of an adult female with omental infarction caused by internal herniation and omental torsion. The patient, who had no previous surgical record, presented with three days of pain in the right upper quadrant. Ultrasound evaluation showed no signs of cholecystitis, after which an abdominal computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis. The patient underwent laparoscopic omentectomy, with an uneventful recovery. This case highlights the importance of radiological and surgical awareness of this rare condition.

Objective: To report the utility of combined transvaginal and transabdominal oocyte retrieval in a patient with an ectopic ovary and unicornuate uterus., Design: Video case report with demonstration of oocyte retrieval technique., Setting(s): University-affiliated fertility center., Patient(s): A 35-year-old woman, gravida 0, with a 6-month history of infertility who presented to our center for fertility evaluation. Hysterosalpingography revealed a left unicornuate uterus and patent left fallopian tube magnetic resonance imaging and laparoscopy showed a right ectopic ovary located in the upper abdomen. Her partner was a 36-year-old male with isolated teratozoospermia. The couple did not conceive with intrauterine insemination., Intervention(s): Ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Transvaginal retrieval of oocytes from the right ovary was not deemed possible due the anatomic location of the ovary, intervening blood vessels, and limited mobility of the ovary. Institutional review board approval was not required for this case report as per our institution's policy; patient consent was obtained for publication of the case., Main Outcome Measure(s): Transabdominal retrieval of oocytes from the right ovary and transvaginal retrieval of oocytes from the left ovary., Result(s): The couple underwent two IVF cycles. Nine oocytes were retrieved during the first IVF cycle: seven transabdominal (right ovary) and two transvaginal (left ovary). All oocytes were mature, and five blastocysts were cryopreserved. Eight oocytes were retrieved during the second IVF cycle, of which five oocytes were retrieved transabdominally from the right ovary, and three oocytes were retrieved transvaginally from the left ovary. All oocytes were mature, and four blastocysts were cryopreserved. A single thawed embryo was transferred in the natural menstrual cycle, which resulted in the live birth of a full-term baby boy weighing 2,410 grams., Conclusion(s): The current case highlights the safety and feasibility of combined transvaginal and transabdominal oocyte retrieval in patients with an ectopic ovary located in the upper abdomen., (Copyright © 2020 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To demonstrate a unique presentation and surgical treatment of a posterior uteroperitoneal fistula with excision of the fistula tract and repair in multiple layers., Design: Illustrative video presentation. A case report is used to describe potential causes of an uteroperitoneal fistula found in a patient during evaluation of secondary infertility and to highlight surgical technique and management using the principles of fistula repair through a minimally invasive approach. The Institutional Review Board reviewed this video article and it was deemed "not human subject research.", Setting: Tertiary medical center., Patient(s): A 33-year-old G1P1001 woman with a history of a cesarean section presented with secondary infertility, pelvic pain, and dysmenorrhea and was found to have a posterior uteroperitoneal fistula at the time of hysterosalpingography., Intervention(s): The patient underwent an uncomplicated robot-assisted laparoscopic excision of a posterior uteroperitoneal fistula with the use of careful dissection of the fistula tract, continuous reassessment, and tension-free closure in layers., Main Outcome Measure(s): Preoperative diagnosis and surgical management displaying intraoperative techniques for robot-assisted excision of fistula tract and repair of defect., Result(s): The patient underwent robot-assisted operative laparoscopy that revealed a 4-cm mass on the right posterior aspect of the uterus independent from her adnexa. Concomitant hysteroscopy revealed normal endometrium without an evident fistula. During chromopertubation, extravasation was seen into the peritoneal cavity from this mass. The mass and fistula tract were excised without a connection found from her cesarean scar, and reconstruction was performed in multiple layers. Endometriotic lesions were noted intraperitoneally in locations distant from the mass. The patient had significant improvement in her symptoms after surgery., Conclusion(s): We present a unique case of a suspected spontaneous posterior uteroperitoneal fistula in the presence of endometriosis without evidence of a connection to her prior hysterotomy scar. Possible etiologies include an undiagnosed, unrepaired hysterotomy extension or a result of chronic inflammation from deep infiltrating endometriosis. Adverse effects on fertility from uteroperitoneal fistulas may be due to disruption of sperm function or endometrial quality secondary to presence of old blood products sequestered in the fistula or due to resultant inflammation from the same. As in this video case, successful treatment of symptoms resulting from an uteroperitoneal fistula requires removal of the fistula tract. The constellation of pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, postmenstrual bleeding, and infertility should raise suspicion for an uteroperitoneal fistula., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To describe the management and the fertility-enhancing potential of surgery in an infertile patient with deep-infiltrating endometriosis and adenomyosis externa., Design: Video case report., Setting: Minimally invasive and robotic gynecologic surgery unit of a university hospital., Patient(s): A 31-year-old nulliparous patient with dysmenorrhea, dysuria, dyspareunia, and primary infertility., Intervention(s): Bimanual examination, transvaginal ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed as a comprehensive preoperative workup. The findings were consistent with bladder endometriosis and a 4-cm right pararectal cystic mass suggestive of adenomyosis externa. Laparoscopic excision of all visible endometriosis was performed. A pararectal lesion was found, completely developing in the retroperitoneal spaces, from the right medial pararectal space to the rectovaginal space, reaching the pelvic floor fascia without infiltration of the levator ani muscle. According to Koninckx classification, this kind of lesion corresponds to type III endometriosis or adenomyosis externa. Nerve-sparing eradication of the nodule was performed. The decision to use these techniques was taken with the intention to treat the patient, and not with the aim of testing the procedures performed. Therefore, as a common clinical practice in our institution and for the above reasons, there was no need for consultation of the institutional review board for approval., Main Outcome Measure(s): Improvement of symptoms and spontaneous conception after surgical removal of all endometriotic implants., Result(s): There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications, and the patient was discharged after 3 days. She discontinued postoperative hormone therapy with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue after 3 months because she desired fertility. She conceived spontaneously after 2 months of attempting. She delivered vaginally and had no complications during pregnancy and labor. Neither recurrence of pain symptoms nor voiding or rectal dysfunctions were reported by the patient., Conclusion(s): In the management of a case of deep endometriosis, the preoperative assessment should be carefully carried out to give the surgeon the most accurate information about the extent of the disease and the patient's main objectives. Imaging techniques such as ultrasound and MRI play a fundamental role along with the clinical evaluation in also detecting lesions that are not visible at first laparoscopic inspection. In this case of a young woman without any detectable fertility issues except for endometriosis, the laparoscopic excision of endometriosis was feasible, safe, and effective in improving the patient's fertility and pain symptoms. The fertility-enhancing potential of complete eradication of pelvic endometriosis, including removal of deep posterior localizations such those presented in this case, has been hypothesized by various investigators. It has been suggested that skilled surgical management for symptomatic deep endometriosis may be followed by a high pregnancy rate, with most pregnancies resulting from postoperative natural conception even in patients with primary infertility., (Copyright © 2020 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To demonstrate identification and dissection of the pelvic autonomic nerves in gynecologic surgery., Design: Identification on the right and left pelvic pelvises, dissection and preservation of the inferior hypogastric plexus in deep endometriosis, and dissection and preservation of the pelvic autonomic nerves in radical hysterectomy., Setting: Academic center., Interventions: Robotic excision of the pelvic peritoneum, excision of deep endometriosis in the uterosacral ligaments, and radical hysterectomy., Conclusion: Pelvic autonomic nerves are easy to identify with the magnification provided with an endoscopic camera. They should be dissected and preserved whenever possible because of their important function., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Summary: In non-specific abdominal pain, cross-sectional imaging, often valued more than clinical examination in today's technologically advanced age, may reveal a large incidentaloma, posing questions regarding its relation to symptoms and the need for surgical removal. This is a situation that highlights the potential for early detection and treatment yet raises the question as to whether surgery is indeed indicated. This report relates the case of a 79-year-old male, with a longstanding history of abdominal pain, who had a giant loose peritoneal body removed. We discuss the reasons for removal and its pathogenesis., (Copyright© Authors.)

Objective: To show technical highlights of a nerve-sparing laparoscopic eradication of deep endometriosis (DE) with posterior compartment peritonectomy., Design: Demonstration of the technique with narrated video footage., Setting: An urban general hospital. A systematic review and meta-analysis has suggested significant advantages of the nerve-sparing technique when considering the relative risk of persistent urinary retention in the treatment of DE [1]. In addition, a recent article has suggested that complete excision of DE with posterior compartment peritonectomy could be the surgical treatment of choice to decrease postoperative pain, improve fertility rate, and prevent future recurrence [2]. However, in DE, nerve-sparing procedures are even more challenging than oncologic radical procedures because the pathology resembles both ovarian/rectal cancer in terms of visceral involvement and advanced cervical cancer in terms of wide parametrial infiltration through the pelvic wall., Interventions: The video highlights the anatomic and technical aspects of a fertility- and nerve-sparing surgery in DE with posterior compartment peritonectomy. After adhesiolysis and ovarian surgery, we developed retroperitoneal space at the level of promontory. The hypogastric nerve consists of the upper edge of the pelvic plexus, therefore the autonomic nerves were separated in a "nerve plane" by sharp interfascial dissection of the loose connective tissue layers both above (between the fascia propria of the rectum and the prehypogastric nerve fascia) and below (between the prehypogastric nerve fascia and the presacral fascia) the hypogastric nerve [3,4]. As a result of these dissections, the autonomic nerves in the pelvis were separated like a sheet with surrounding fascia. We then completely resected all DE lesions including peritoneal endometriosis while avoiding injury to the nerve plane. In a small number of our experiences, none of the patients (n = 51) required clean intermittent self-catheterization after this procedure., Conclusion: Fertility- and nerve-sparing laparoscopic eradication of DE with total posterior compartment peritonectomy is a feasible technique and may provide both curability of DE and functional preservation. Our nerve-sparing technique can reproducibly simplify this complex procedure., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Introduction: Endometriosis is a very common disease that affects up to 10% of the female population. The use of indocyanine green (ICG) dye has been proposed to allow the proper localization of endometriotic lesions during surgery. Our purpose is to offer an overview of near-infrared (NIR)-ICG in the surgical treatment of superficial peritoneal endometriosis and deep infiltrating endometriosis., Material and Methods: Electronic databases were searched, including MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, ClinicalTrial.gov, OVID and Cochrane Library. The studies were identified with the use of a mesh combination of the following keywords: "indocyanine green", "endometriosis", "deep endometriosis", "robotic surgery", "laparoscopy", "ureter", "rectosigmoid" from 2000 to May 2020. All articles describing the use of ICG applied to endometriosis surgery were considered for review. Only original papers that reported specific experience data on the topic were included. Moreover, video-articles were included in the analysis. Quality and risk of bias were evaluated by two authors, respectively., Results: Fifty-three studies were reviewed and reviews or comment articles not reporting original data and original articles lacking specific data on the application of ICG in patients affected by endometriosis were excluded. The quality of the 17 studies included was assessed. Eight studies suggested the usefulness of NIR-ICG as a tool in the detection of endometriosis during surgery, and one randomized controlled trial and one prospective study did not confirm the advantage of its use. Eight studies found that NIR-ICG was useful for the evaluation of vascularization in intestinal anastomoses and ureterolysis after surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis., Conclusions: NIR-ICG appears useful in the evaluation of vascularization in intestinal anastomoses after segmental resection, confirming its role even after ureterolysis for parametrial deep infiltrating endometriosis. However, its usefulness as a tool in the detection of endometriosis during surgery is inconsistent., (© 2020 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology (NFOG). Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Study Objective: To assess the feasibility of a noncontact radio sensor as an objective measurement tool to study postoperative recovery from endometriosis surgery., Design: Prospective cohort pilot study., Setting: Center for minimally invasive gynecologic surgery at an academically affiliated community hospital in conjunction with in-home monitoring., Patients: Patients aged above 18 years who sleep independently and were scheduled to have laparoscopy for the diagnosis and treatment of suspected endometriosis., Interventions: A wireless, noncontact sensor, Emerald, was installed in the subjects' home and used to capture physiologic signals without body contact. The device captured objective data about the patients' movement and sleep in their home for 5 weeks before surgery and approximately 5 weeks postoperatively. The subjects were concurrently asked to complete a daily pain assessment using a numeric rating scale and a free text survey about their daily symptoms., Measurements and Main Results: Three women aged 23 years to 39 years and with mild to moderate endometriosis participated in the study. Emerald-derived sleep and wake times were contextualized and corroborated by select participant comments from retrospective surveys. In addition, self-reported pain levels and 1 sleep variable, sleep onset to deep sleep time, showed a significant (p <.01), positive correlation with next-day-pain scores in all 3 subjects: r = 0.45, 0.50, and 0.55. In other words, the longer it took the subject to go from sleep onset to deep sleep, the higher their pain score the following day., Conclusion: A patient's experience with pain is challenging to meaningfully quantify. This study highlights Emerald's unique ability to capture objective data in both preoperative functioning and postoperative recovery in an endometriosis population. The utility of this uniquely objective data for the clinician-patient relationship is just beginning to be explored., (Copyright © 2020 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The objective of this video is to demonstrate different clinical presentations of peritoneal defects (peritoneal retraction pockets) and their anatomic relationships with the pelvic innervation, justifying the occurrence of some neurologic symptoms in association with these diseases., Design: Surgical demonstration of complete excision of different types of peritoneal retraction pockets and a comparison with a laparoscopic retroperitoneal cadaveric dissection of the pelvic innervation., Setting: Private hospital in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil., Interventions: A pelvic peritoneal pocket is a retraction defect in the surface of the peritoneum of variable size and shapes [1]. The origin of defects in the pelvic peritoneum is still unknown [2]. It has been postulated that it is the result of peritoneal irritation or invasion by endometriosis, with resultant scarring and retraction of the peritoneum [3,4]. It has also been suggested that a retraction pocket may be a cause of endometriosis, where the disease presumably settles in a previously altered peritoneal surface [5]. These defects are shown in many studies to be associated with pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and secondary dysmenorrhea [1-4]. Some studies have shown that the excision of these peritoneal defect improves pain symptoms and quality of life [5]. It is important to recognize peritoneal pockets as a potential manifestation of endometriosis because in some cases, the only evidence of endometriosis may be the presence of these peritoneal defects [6]. In this video, we demonstrate different types of peritoneal pockets and their close relationship with pelvic anatomic structures. Case 1 is a 29-year-old woman, gravida 0, with severe dysmenorrhea and catamenial bowel symptoms (bowel distension and diarrhea/constipation) that were unresponsive to medical treatment. Imaging studies were reported as normal, and a laparoscopy showed a posterior cul-de-sac peritoneal pocket infiltrating the pararectal fossa, with extension to the lateral border of the rectum. Case 2 is a cadaveric dissection of a posterior cul-de-sac peritoneal pocket infiltrating the pararectal fossa, with extension to the pelvic sidewall. After dissection of the obturator fossa, we can observe that the pocket is close to the sacrospinous ligament, pudendal nerve, and some sacral roots. Case 3 is a 31-year-old woman, gravida 1, para 1, with severe dysmenorrhea that was unresponsive to medical treatment and catamenial bowel symptoms (catamenial bowel distention and diarrhea). Imaging studies were reported as normal and a laparoscopy showed left uterosacral peritoneal pocket infiltrating the pararectal fossa in close proximity to the rectal wall. Case 4 is a cadaveric dissection of the ovarian fossa and the obturator fossa showing the proximity between these structures. Case 5 is a 35-year-old woman, gravida 0, with severe dysmenorrhea that was unresponsive to medical treatment, referring difficulty, and pain when walking only during menstruation. A neurologic physical examination revealed weakness in thigh adduction, and the magnetic resonance imaging showed no signs of endometriosis. During laparoscopy, we found a peritoneal pocket infiltrating the ovarian fossa, with involvement in the area between the umbilical ligament and the uterine artery. This type of pocket can easily reach the obturator nerve. Because the obturator nerve and its branches supply the muscle and skin of the medial thigh [7,8], patients may present with thigh adduction weakness or difficulty ambulating [9,10]. Case 6 is a cadaveric dissection of the sacrospinous ligament and the pudendal nerve from a medial approach, between the umbilical artery and the iliac vessels. Case 7 is a 34-year-old woman, gravida 1, para 1, with severe dysmenorrhea and catamenial bowel symptoms as well as deep dyspareunia. The transvaginal ultrasound showed focal adenomyosis and a 2-cm nodule, 9-cm apart from the anal verge, affecting 30% of the bowel circumference. In the laparoscopy, we found a posterior cul-de-sac retraction pocket associated with a large deep endometriosis nodule affecting the vagina and the rectum. In all cases, endometriosis was confirmed by histopathology, and in a 6-month follow-up, all patients showed improvement of bowel, pain, and neurologic symptoms., Conclusion: Peritoneal pockets can have different clinical presentations. Depending on the topography and deepness of infiltration, they can be the cause of some neurologic symptoms associated with endometriosis pain. With this video, we try to encourage surgeons to totally excise these lesions and raise awareness about the adjacent key anatomic structures that can be affected., (Copyright © 2020 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Peritoneal pseudocysts (PPs) in patients who are diagnosed with Crohn's disease (CD), is a rarely diagnosed entity with unknown epidemiology, etiology and pathogenesis. We present the case of a 30-year old male with known CD who presented with an acute abdomen because of a PP. PPs are developed as a complication caused in patients, suffering from mainly thee conditions. Firstly, PPs appear in patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), they are also developed in patients with peritoneal trauma and finally in CD patients. Our case belongs to these three reported cases in our literature review, since it refers to a CD patient that developed PPs. He underwent emergency laparotomy and excision of the cyst, with good postoperative results. A literature review of 22 publications show that PPs often represent a diagnostic and therapeutic problem as it has a variable presentation and there are no data on what the best treatment option is - surgical excision or aspiration.

Peritoneal inclusion cysts (PICs) are benign multilocular cysts that consist of fluid localized between intraperitoneal adhesions. They usually present in women in the third and fourth decades of life with a history of prior pelvic or abdominal surgery, especially months to 20 years ago. PICs have low mortality and the potential for high morbidity. Transvaginal ultrasound with color Doppler has an important role in the differential diagnosis. Also, a very important role is played by CA 125 plasma level or use of the ROMA algorithm. But thanks to laparoscopy and the possibility of biopsy from suspicious lesions the correct diagnosis can be established. Treatment of PICs depends individually on the patient's condition, symptoms, other diseases, and desire for procreation. Among other contemplated are hormonal oral contraceptive, an image-guided aspiration, minimally invasive or open surgery. The issue of diagnosis and treatment of PICs requires the continuation of multicentre, randomized clinical trials to find and standardize effective, personalized treatments for PICs.

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts are commonly used in neurosurgical procedures to treat hydrocephalus. Although shunt-associated abdominal complications are well documented, extrahepatic pseudocysts are a rare shunt complication in adult patients. Therefore, we herein report the case of a 54-year-old male patient who presented with a bulging mass around the previous surgical site at the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. He had a 4-year history of VP shunt surgery for posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus. A computed tomographic scan revealed a large extrahepatic pseudocsyt. Our case represented a rare entity of extrahepatic pseudocyst in adult patients underwent VP shunt surgery. The clinical presentation, diagnostic tools, and treatment methods were discussed., (Copyright: © Neurosciences.)

Study Objective: Prior research has collectively shown that endometriosis is inversely related to women's adiposity. The aim of this study was to assess whether this inverse relationship holds true by disease severity and typology., Design: Cross-sectional study among women with no prior diagnosis of endometriosis., Setting: Fourteen clinical centers in Salt Lake City, UT, and San Francisco, CA., Patients: A total of 495 women (of which 473 were analyzed), aged 18-44 years, were enrolled in the operative cohort of the Endometriosis, Natural History, Diagnosis, and Outcomes (ENDO) Study., Interventions: Gynecologic laparoscopy/laparotomy regardless of clinical indication., Measurements and Main Results: Participants underwent anthropometric assessments, body composition measurements, and evaluations of body fat distribution ratios before surgery. Surgeons completed a standardized operative report immediately after surgery to capture revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine staging (I-IV) and typology of disease (superficial endometriosis [SE], ovarian endometrioma [OE], and deep infiltrating endometriosis [DIE]). Linear mixed models, taking into account within-clinical-center correlation, were used to generate least square means (95% confidence intervals) to assess differences in adiposity measures by endometriosis stage (no endometriosis, I-IV) and typology (no endometriosis, SE, DIE, OE, OE + DIE) adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and parity. Although most confidence intervals were wide and overlapping, 3 general impressions emerged: (1) women with incident endometriosis had the lowest anthropometric/body composition indicators compared with those without incident endometriosis, (2) women with stage I or IV endometriosis had lower indicators compared with women with stage II or III, and (3) women with OE and/or DIE tended to have the lowest indicators, whereas women with SE had the highest indicators., Conclusion: Our research highlights that the relationship between women's adiposity and endometriosis severity and typology may be more complicated than prior research indicates., (Copyright © 2020 AAGL. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: None

Study Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound in predicting a laparoscopic, surgically assigned, revised American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) endometriosis stage., Design: A multicenter, retrospective, diagnostic accuracy study., Setting: The patients visited 1 of 2 academic gynecologic ultrasound units and underwent laparoscopy led by 1 of 6 surgeons in metropolitan Sydney, Australia, between 2016 and 2018., Patients: Patients with suspected endometriosis (n = 204)., Interventions: Ultrasound followed by laparoscopy., Measurements and Main Results: Surgical cases were identified. The preoperative ultrasound report and surgical operative notes were each used to retrospectively assign an ASRM score and stage. The breakdown of surgical findings was as follows: ASRM 0 (i.e., no endometriosis), 24/204 (11.8%); ASRM 1, 110/204 (53.9%); ASRM 2, 22/204 (10.8%); ASRM 3, 16/204 (7.8%); ASRM 4, 32 204 (15.7%). The overall accuracy of ultrasound in predicting the surgical ASRM stage was as follows: ASRM 1, 53.4%; ASRM 2, 93.8%; ASRM 3, 89.7%; ASRM 4, 93.1%; grouped ASRM 0, 1, and 2, 94.6%; and grouped ASRM 3 and 4 of 94.6%. Ultrasound had better test performance in higher disease stages. When the ASRM stages were dichotomized, ultrasound had sensitivity and specificity of 94.9% and 93.8%, respectively, for ASRM 0, 1, and 2 and of 93.8% and 94.9%, respectively, for ASRM 3 and 4., Conclusion: Ultrasound has high accuracy in predicting the mild, moderate, and severe ASRM stages of endometriosis and can accurately differentiate between stages when ASRM stages are dichotomized (nil/minimal/mild vs moderate/severe). This can have major positive implications on patient triaging at centers of excellence in minimally invasive gynecology for advanced-stage endometriosis., (Copyright © 2020 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Study Objective: To evaluate the long-term impact of laparoscopic excision of endometriosis on quality of life through pain reduction as measured by the Endometriosis Health Profile-30 (EHP-30) in uterine-sparing (preservation of the uterus and at least 1 ovary) and nonuterine-sparing (removal of the uterus) surgery., Design: Cohort study., Setting: Academic medical center., Patients: Sixty-one women who had undergone laparoscopic excision of endometriosis for pelvic pain were enrolled in a tissue-procurement study., Interventions: Patients who had previously completed an EHP-30 preoperatively and at 4 weeks postoperatively were mailed a copy of the EHP-30 2.6 to 6.8 years after their index surgery., Measurements and Main Results: The primary outcome was quality of life as measured by changes in the EHP-30 scores before their index surgery and those measured weeks and years later. The secondary outcome was a comparison of the EHP-30 scores between patients who underwent excision of endometriosis alone and those who underwent excision of endometriosis with hysterectomy +/- oophorectomy. From 2011 to 2015, 61 women underwent laparoscopic excision of endometriosis for pelvic pain. Forty-six of the 61 patients completed the EHP-30 for a response rate of 75%. The patients demonstrated significant improvement in all 5 scales of the EHP-30 (pain, control and powerlessness, emotional well-being, social support, and self-image) at 4 weeks postoperatively (p <.001), which persisted for up to 6.8 years in follow-up (p <.001) when compared with their baseline scores. The improvement in EHP-30 scores did not differ by American Society for Reproductive Medicine staging or index surgery. Definitive surgery (total laparoscopic hysterectomy/bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) was not associated with improved outcomes when compared with uterine-sparing surgery., Conclusion: Laparoscopic excision of endometriosis offers improvement in all quality-of-life domains as measured by the EHP-30, including a reduction in pain, an effect that may persist for up to 6.8 years. These findings suggest that laparoscopic excision of endometriosis with uterine preservation can be considered as an option for discussion during counseling for treatment of endometriosis., (Copyright © 2020 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A 61-year-old male patient presented to our hospital's emergency department with a history of worsening abdominal pain. The symptoms began as epigastric pain and later localized to the right lower quadrant. On physical examination, there was rebound tenderness mainly in the right lower quadrant and in the right upper quadrant. The laboratory results showed leukocytosis. Abdominopelvic computed tomography scan revealed that a definite twisting on the long axis with three complete counter-clockwise turns was observed in the vascular structures of greater omentum. At operation, the greater omentum was found to be twisted and gangrenous. The infarcted omentum was ligated at the pedicle and excised. Primary torsion of the omentum is one of the uncommon causes of acute abdominal pain. Although rarely diagnosed, the entity is important to the surgeon because it mimics the common causes of the acute surgical abdomen. Omental torsion usually occurs on the right side. Abdominal pain starts suddenly after a heavy meal or hard exercise, and is not accompanied with nausea, vomiting and anorexia. Abdominal computed tomography may show peculiar features suggestive of omental torsion. Treatment consists of ligation and resection of the involved portion of the omentum and recovery is usually rapid, uneventful and complete. Primary omental torsion should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen. The surgeon must remain aware of the disease and search for it if, at laparotomy, other adequate cause is not found to explain the symptoms, especially if free sero-sanguineous fluid is found in the peritoneal cavity. KEY WORDS: Acute abdomen, Greater omentum, Omental torsion, Omental infarction, Omental necrosis.

Pleuro-peritoneal leakage is an uncommon complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). In this study, we report the case of a male patient (age 83), treated with PD (daytime single-exchange). In October 2019, hospitalization was necessary due to dyspnoea and a reduction of peritoneal ultrafiltration. A right pleural leakage resulted at chest x-ray. A regression of the pleural leakage was immediately observed after interrupting PD. It was then performed a pleuro-peritoneal CT scan at baseline, followed by a second scan performed 4 hours after the injection of 2 L of isotonic solution with 100ml of contrast medium, which evidenced a pleuro-peritoneal communication. It was then decided to perform a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), that showed no evidence of diaphragm communication. It was then executed a pleurodesis using sterile talcum. The patient was released on the 3rd day, with a conservative therapy and a low-protein diet. After 2 weeks a new pleuro-peritoneal CT scan with contrast medium was executed. This time the scan evidenced the absence of contrast medium in the thoracic cavity. The patient then resumed PD therapy, with 3 daily exchanges with isotonic solution (volume 1.5 L), showing no complications. Concerning the treatment of pleuro-peritoneal leakage, VATS allows both the patch-repairing of diaphragmatic flaws and the instillation of chemical agents. In our case, VATS allowed the chemical pleurodesis which in turn enabled, in just 2 weeks of conservative treatment, the resuming of PD. In conclusion, this methodology is a valid option in the treatment of pleuro-peritoneal leakage in PD patients., (Copyright by Società Italiana di Nefrologia SIN, Rome, Italy.)

We report the case of a 32-year-old woman who presented with reducible indirect inguinal hernia and a challenging constellation of symptoms, signs and radiographic findings. Surgical approach superseded conservative management when the patient's abdomen became acute, with a rising lactate and haemodynamic instability. Specifically, the presence of a fluid collection was concerning for sinister acute pathology. Our patient was rediagnosed intraoperatively with hydrocoele of canal of Nuck. This so-called 'female hydrocoele' is an eponymous anatomical rarity in general surgery, presenting as an inguinolabial swelling with variable clinical profile. Hydrocoele of canal of Nuck takes origin from failure of transitory reproductive anlagen to regress and is thus analogous to patent processus vaginalis. Its true incidence is speculative, with just several hundred cases globally. We aim to provide insights into surgical patient management for a rare entity during the COVID-19 outbreak, from the unique perspective of a small rural hospital in Scotland., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: The clinical and economical value of routine submission of hernia sacs for pathological examination and scheduled clinic follow-ups after inguinal hernia and hydrocele repair has been questioned. Herein, we assessed the institutional variability in these routine practices., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent unilateral or bilateral inguinal hernia and/or hydrocele repair, open or laparoscopically, at our institution from 2015 to 2018., Results: 1181 patients were included (1074 inguinal hernias and 157 hydroceles). Of 531 specimens obtained from 446 (38%) patients, 515 (97%) were normal. 16 (3%) abnormal pathological findings included 7 with mesothelial hyperplasia, 5 with nonfunctional genital ductal remnants, 3 with ectopic adrenal cortical tissues, and 1 epidydimal structure which was not recognized at the time of surgery. 418 (35%) patients had scheduled clinic follow-ups 65 (IQR 46-94) days postoperatively. 44 (4%) patients with unexpected postoperative Emergency Department visits within 30 days of surgery were identified. Only one patient required inpatient treatment, and the rest did not require intervention or admission. The total direct cost of analyzing specimens during the study period was $30,798 CAD ($10,266/year). The average cost to detect a potentially significant finding was $1924.88/specimen and $2053.20/patient., Conclusions: Routine pathological examination of hernia sacs and scheduled clinic follow-ups were associated with significant costs and predominantly nonsignificant findings. They should therefore be reserved for patients with a high clinical suspicion of injuries/abnormalities or risk factors for potential complications., Level of Evidence: This is a level III evidence study., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Laparoscopic or robotic procedures involving extensive dissection of the posterior cul-de-sac and pelvic sidewalls often require the surgeon and assistants to manipulate the uterus and adnexa to optimize intraoperative visualization and access pathology. This is especially true during excision of endometriosis surgeries. Temporary oophoropexy and uteropexy improve intraoperative visualization and decrease the necessity for additional ports and surgical assistants. These procedures can be efficiently completed by using a Keith needle and suture passed suprapubically (uteropexy) or through the bilateral lower quadrants (oophoropexy) (Figure), through the target viscera, and back through the abdominal wall. The suture is then secured at the level of the abdominal wall. A video was included to describe and demonstrate these procedures. Temporary oophoropexy and uteropexy free the assistant to provide countertraction, irrigation, and removal of specimens rather than limiting the assistant to the sole duty of retraction. This can in turn improve operating room efficiency and safety., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We aimed to assay cytokines and growth factors in peritoneal fluid samples from women with and without endometriosis to understand the inflammatory milieu, and assess their potential diagnostic utility. This cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary care hospital included 54 women, aged 20-45 years, with regular menstrual history and undergoing diagnostic/therapeutic laparoscopy for infertility and/or pain. Peritoneal fluid samples were collected after insertion of trocar & laparoscope but prior to other surgical intervention. A multiplex immunoassay of 27 cytokines and growth factors was performed. The concentration of FGF2 and CSF3 were significantly lower in women with endometriosis than without endometriosis ( p  = .043 and .003, respectively). The levels of CCL2 and IL1RN were significantly higher in moderate-severe than in minimal-mild endometriosis ( p  = .038 and .043, respectively). Phase-specific comparison revealed that in proliferative phase, the levels of CSF2 and CSF3 were lower in women with endometriosis than without the disease ( p  = .047 and .013, respectively). The ROC curve analysis provided a cutoff value 0.78 and 0.76 for FGF2 and CSF3, respectively. Cytokines and growth factors such as FGF2, CSF3, CSF2, CCL2 and IL1RN seem to contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis and may have a potential utility for the diagnosis of endometriosis.

A 26-year-old patient was admitted in our center with one year of infertility history after a miscarriage. She was diagnosed with uterus bicornis unicollis and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE); therefore, she underwent endometriosis focus removal surgery. After six-months, she conceived spontaneously and delivered one healthy baby. One year after the first pregnancy delivery, she conceived spontaneously and delivered twins in an extremely rare condition of uterus bicornis unicollis, of which there are only 15 cases reported worldwide. Both pregnancies were monitored every two or three weeks using ultrasonography to assess fetal growth, and cervical length was measured to assess the risk of premature delivery.

Study Objective: Beside the pain, there are 2 further problems in the management of endometriosis: the high recurrence rate (10% per year) and the high rate of impaired fertility. The objective of this study was to investigate the pathogenesis of these 2 factors., Design: This is a retrospective cohort study, and the aim is to evaluate the complete excision of endometriotic lesions, including the posterior compartment of the peritoneum, with regard to postoperative outcome, focusing on relieving pain, increasing fertility rate, and decreasing recurrence rate., Setting: Charité-University Clinic, Department of Gynaecology, Endometriosis research Centre., Patients: Fifty-four patients were enrolled in this study, with severe deep infiltrating endometriosis (scored by ENZIAN) and superficial endometriosis, as well as endometriomas (revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine [rASRM] I = 3; II = 15; III = 10; and IV = 26)., Interventions: Posterior compartment peritonectomy (visible endometriotic lesions and inflamed altered peritoneum) was performed in all patients as part of a complex surgery: complete excision of endometriosis., Measurements and Main Results: Postoperative outcomes were evaluated, based on the postoperative follow-up (up to 5 years) of 54 investigated patients. In 36 women (66%) preoperative complaints were eliminated. Furthermore, of 28 women seeking improved fertility, pregnancy was reported in 13 cases (46%). In 7 (54%) cases pregnancy occurred spontaneously, and in the remainder with assisted fertilization. In addition, long-term follow-up demonstrated a recurrence rate in 1.8% of patients., Conclusion: Overall, the number of complaints was significantly reduced. Only in the case of reproductive-aged women with ongoing postoperative complaints was it important to preserve the uterus. Although this pilot study on systematic posterior peritonectomy showed improvement in recurrence and fertility rate, the main question remains: will this surgical technique achieve better results and outcomes in the future? This has to be addressed in a prospective randomized study., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To assess the relationship between age, location of the disease, and surgical procedures performed in patients undergoing surgical management of endometriosis., Design: Retrospective study using data prospectively recorded in the North-West Inter Regional Female Cohort for Patients with Endometriosis database., Setting: University tertiary referral center., Patients: Women who underwent surgical management of symptomatic endometriosis between April 2009 and April 2014., Interventions: Patients were allocated to 6 groups according to their age at the time of surgery: ≤20, 21 to 25, 26 to 30, 31 to 35, 36 to 40 and >40 years. Patient characteristics, prior history, location of endometriotic lesions, stage of disease, intraoperative findings, and surgical procedures were retrieved from a prospectively recorded database., Measurements and Main Results: Patient characteristics, symptoms, location of endometriosis, and type of surgery performed were compared between groups. In total, 1560 procedures were performed. Of these, more than one-half were carried out in women between the age of 26 to 35 years and the majority were performed in women aged between 26 and 30 years. Only 2% of procedures were performed in women under the age of 20 years. The mean stage of the disease at the time of surgical diagnosis was stage II for women younger than 20 years, stage III for those in the age group of 21 to 25 years, and stage IV for those older than 26 years. The rate of diagnosis of deep colorectal nodules increased progressively from 20 to 26 years and remained stable thereafter., Conclusion: Our data confirm that endometriosis is a disease that probably progresses from adolescence until the adult period when symptoms (pain or infertility) become debilitating and require surgery. Our data suggest that policies relating to the prevention and early diagnosis of endometriosis should focus on women younger than 25 years., (Copyright © 2019 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Peritoneal cysts are not uncommon in children - mesenteric/omental cysts being the commoner entity. Peritoneal cysts in the falciform ligament are a very rare entity reported in the literature. We present a 5-year-old boy who presented with pain upper central abdomen and few episodes of non-bilious vomiting for 1 year. He was stable on examination, with abdominal examination revealing the fullness of the abdomen with palpable generalised cystic mass which was mobile transversely. Ultrasound and contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen revealed intra-peritoneal cystic lesion measuring 13 cm × 11.5 cm × 9 cm with septations seen in the abdominal cavity from the epigastric region to the infraumbilical region (D11-L5 level). Laparoscopy showed a large cyst of the abdomen arising from the anterior abdominal wall, along the falciform ligament. The dark yellow fluid was aspirated and the cyst was excised leaving a part which was adherent to the anterior wall. Histopathology revealed cuboidal epithelium lined by the fibrous wall. The patient is doing well at 6 months follow-up. Falciform ligament cysts are very rare and laparoscopy can confirm the diagnosis as well as help in excision of the cyst with good results., Competing Interests: None

Study Objective: To determine if intraoperative outcomes for patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy with endometriosis and an obliterated cul-de-sac are different than patients with endometriosis and no obliteration of the cul-de-sac., Design: A retrospective cohort study., Setting: An academic tertiary care hospital., Patients: Patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy with endometriosis between 2012 and 2016., Interventions: Total laparoscopic hysterectomy, laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy, and other procedures as indicated., Measurements and Main Results: A total of 333 patients undergoing hysterectomy were found to have endometriosis at the time of surgery. Ninety-six (29%) patients were found to have stage IV endometriosis as defined by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine staging criteria. Of those, 55 (57%) had an obliterated cul-de-sac, and 41 (43%) did not. The remaining 237 (71%) patients had stage I, II, or III endometriosis. Fifty-one (93%) patients with an obliterated cul-de-sac required laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy compared with 12 (29%) patients with stage IV endometriosis without obliteration and 60 (25%) patients with stages I through III endometriosis (p < .0001). The median total surgical time in minutes differed among the 3 groups as follows: obliterated cul-de-sac = 159 minutes, stage IV endometriosis without obliteration = 108 minutes, and stages I through III endometriosis = 116 minutes (p <.0001). Additional procedures at the time of hysterectomy were more frequently performed for patients with an obliterated cul-de-sac and included salpingectomy (p = .02), ureterolysis (p <.0001), enterolysis (p <.0001), cystoscopy (p = .0006), ureteral stenting (p <.0001), proctoscopy (p <.0001), oversewing of the bowel (p <.0001), and anterior resection and anastomosis (p = .006)., Conclusion: Patients with stage IV endometriosis and an obliterated cul-de-sac required laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy and various other intraoperative procedures more than patients with stage IV endometriosis without obliteration and stages I through III. Patients with obliterated cul-de-sacs who are identified intraoperatively should be referred to minimally invasive gynecologic specialists because of the difficult nature of these procedures and extra training required to perform them safely with limited morbidity., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: Excisional techniques used to surgically treat deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) can result in inadvertent damage to the autonomic nervous system of the pelvis, leading to urinary, anorectal, and sexual dysfunction [1-4]. This educational video illustrates the autonomic neuroanatomy of the pelvis, identifying the predictable location of the hypogastric nerve in relation to other pelvic landmarks, and demonstrates a surgical technique for sparing the hypogastric nerve and inferior hypogastric plexus., Design: Using didactic schematics and medical drawings, we discuss and illustrate the autonomic neuroanatomy of the pelvis. With annotated laparoscopic footage, we demonstrate a stepwise approach for identifying, dissecting, and preserving the hypogastric nerve during pelvic surgery., Setting: Tertiary care academic hospitals: Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and S. Orsola Hospital in Bologna, Italy., Interventions: Radical excision of DIE with adequate identification and sparing of the hypogastric nerve and inferior hypogastric plexus bilaterally was performed, following an overview of pelvic neuroanatomy. The superior hypogastric plexus was described and the hypogastric nerve, the most superficial and readily identifiable component of the inferior hypogastric plexus, was identified and used as a landmark to preserve autonomic bundles in the pelvis. The following steps, illustrated with laparoscopic footage, describe a surgical technique developed to identify and preserve the hypogastric nerve and the deeper inferior hypogastric plexus without the need for more extensive pelvic dissection to the level of the sacral nerve roots: (1) transperitoneal identification of the hypogastric nerve, with a pulling maneuver for confirmation; (2) opening of the retroperitoneum at the level of the pelvic brim and retroperitoneal identification of the ureter; (3) medial dissection and identification of the hypogastric nerve; and (4) lateralization of the hypogastric nerve, allowing for safe resection of DIE., Conclusion: The hypogastric nerve follows a predictable course and can be identified, dissected, and spared during pelvic surgery, making it an important landmark for the preservation of pelvic autonomic innervation., (Copyright © 2019 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Study Objective: To evaluate high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation therapy for abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE)., Design: A retrospective study., Setting: Gynecologic department of a teaching hospital in China., Patients: Thirty patients with AWE were treated from May 2013 to December 2015., Interventions: Thirteen patients were treated with HIFU ablation and 17 patients with surgical resection., Measurements and Main Results: Color Doppler ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging were used to observe the lesions before and after treatment. In addition, recovery time, complications, and adverse reactions of the 2 groups were compared. Menstrual pain was relieved after treatment in all 30 patients. After treatment, the lesions in patients who underwent HIFU ablation decreased gradually, and there was no recurrence. Symptoms recurred in 1 patient in the surgery group 12 months after surgery. The post-treatment hospital length of stay of the HIFU ablation group (1.00 ± 0 days) was significantly shorter than that of the surgical group (5.23 ± 1.24 days; p <.001). The incidence of fever (0% vs 11.8%; p = .049) and complications of the urinary system (7.7% vs 17.6%; p = .043) in the HIFU ablation group were significantly lower than that of the surgical group., Conclusions: HIFU ablation therapy is a promising treatment for AWE, and further study is warranted., (Copyright © 2019 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To describe a case of spontaneous hemoperitoneum in a woman affected by deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE)., Design: Technical video showing laparoscopic management of a spontaneous hemoperitoneum in a patient with DIE., Setting: Minimally Invasive Gynecological Unit, Sant'Orsola Academic Hospital, Bologna, Italy., Intervention: A 35-year-old nulliparous woman was admitted to our gynecologic emergency room because of pelvic pain and a fainting sensation. She had a history of DIE and had been followed for 6 months by our outpatient clinics. The patient underwent an immediate laparoscopy because of the rapid worsening of clinical conditions. After blood suction and difficult adhesiolysis, a vascular lesion with a huge blood flow, close to the left utero-ovarian ligament, was detected. Selective coagulation was performed with good results. During the follow-up visit after 1 month, the patient reported good health. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report., Conclusion: Spontaneous hemoperitoneum represents a rare and life-threatening complication associated with endometriosis. In patients with hemoperitoneum and a history of endometriosis, it is important to pay attention to the possible presence of uncommon bleeding localizations. Laparoscopy was useful and effective in this challenging situation, identifying the bleeding source and performing selective coagulation., (Copyright © 2019 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rationale: Castleman disease (CD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disease with a poorly understood etiology. The occurrence of CD in the abdominal cavity is very rare, especially in the retroperitoneal peripancreatic region., Patient Concerns: A 33-year-old woman was referred to our department on March 1, 2018 for a detailed physical examination due to retroperitoneal peripancreatic lymph node enlargement over 15 days., Diagnosis: Enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the epigastrium showed the mass with abundant blood supply is located between the liver and the stomach in the upper margin of the pancreas. Postoperative pathological examination revealed CD, type of unicentric Castleman disease., Interventions: We performed an open surgery on this patient and completely removed the mass. There was no postoperative radiochemotherapy., Outcomes: The patient was followed-up for more than 12 months after the operation and showed good recovery., Lessons: CD is a rare disorder that is hard to diagnose early and complete resection of the tumor is still the most effective treatment.

Study Objective: To investigate predictive factors for change in quality of life (QOL) between pre- and postoperative periods in patients with endometriosis., Design: A prospective and multicenter cohort study., Setting: Five districts including a tertiary referral center and private and general public hospitals., Patients: Nine hundred eighty-one patients aged 15 to 50 years underwent laparoscopic treatment (preferred approach) for endometriosis between January 2004 and December 2012., Interventions: Laparoscopic treatment for endometriosis. All revised American Fertility Society stages were included., Measurements and Main Results: QOL was evaluated using the 36-Item Short Form Survey questionnaire. Factors influencing changes for each 36-Item Shorty Form Survey domain score between t0 (before surgery) and 1 year after surgery were predicted on the basis of univariate and multivariable analyses. The effect size (ES) method was used to measure changes in QOL. Univariate analysis revealed that 47% of stage IV endometriosis patients presented an improvement in the postoperative Physical Component Summary (PCS) score (ES ≥ 0.8) versus 26%, 31.3%, and 27.5% of patients with stage I, II, and III, respectively (p <.001). Forty-four percent and 38% of patients with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) presented an improvement in postoperative PCS and Mental Component Summary scores (ES>0.8) versus 23% and 24% of patients without CPP, respectively (p <.001). Multivariable analysis (ES > 0.8 vs ES < 0) revealed that women with CPP were more likely to experience greater improvement in postoperative PCS and Mental Component Summary scores than women without CPP (relative risk [RR] = 2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7-4.4; p <.001 and RR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.8; p <.01, respectively). Accordingly, fertile patients were more likely to show higher rates of improvement in the postoperative PCS score than infertile patients (RR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-3.1; p <.05)., Conclusion: Patients presenting with severe endometriosis and who experience higher levels of pain are more likely to show improvement in QOL after surgery. CPP is the most significant independent predictive factor for changes in QOL scores., (Copyright © 2019 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Study Objective: To demonstrate the surgical steps involved in segmental rectosigmoid resection and reanastomosis in a deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) setting., Design: Step-by-step video demonstration of the technique., Setting: Despite efforts made to identify criteria able to reliably predict which patients would be more likely to benefit from segmental bowel resection, such predictability remains an area of controversy and ambiguity. Furthermore, a standardized surgical technique has not yet been defined. Based on our experience, patients with DIE and colorectal involvement should be considered for segmental resection followed by anastomosis if they present with lesions not suitable for shaving/nodulectomy (i.e., large, deeply infiltrating nodules with extensive circumferential involvement). In our practice, careful patient selection together with the adoption of a standardized surgical technique allowed us to minimize the potential complications associated with segmental bowel resection., Intervention: The patient was a 27-year-old woman diagnosed by ultrasonography with a bowel endometriotic nodule of 33 × 8 × 14 mm infiltrating the inner layer of the muscularis propria at the rectosigmoid junction, with a distance from the anal verge of approximately 12 cm and an estimated stenosis of 50%. A 3-dimensional laparoscopic segmental rectosigmoid resection was performed, and indocyanine green-enhanced fluorescent angiography was used to assess perfusion of the bowel before completion of the anastomosis. The total operative time was 135 minutes, and no intraoperative complications occurred. Complete excision of endometriosis was achieved. The estimated blood loss was 30 mL. An intra-abdominal drain was not placed, and the urinary catheter was removed at the end of surgery. The patient was discharged at 6 days after surgery and did not experience any postoperative complications. The bowel endometriotic nodule measured 34 × 8 × 13 mm in a fresh specimen., Conclusion: Advanced laparoscopic surgical skills are needed to properly perform segmental rectosigmoid resection. Subspecialization and adequate pretreatment evaluation are crucial to ensure the correct decision making process within a complex algorithm for surgical management of bowel endometriosis., (Copyright © 2019 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Colorectal involvement represents 90% of bowel endometriosis. The best surgical approach must consider the patient's clinical symptoms, preoperative imaging, and correlation with surgical findings. For patients with severe pain who either have failed medical treatment or contraindications to hormonal treatment and have a single bowel lesion <3 cm that involves the inner muscularis, disc resection is the preferred approach to treat bowel endometriosis [1,2]. Therefore, here we describe the surgical principles for disc resection for deep bowel endometriosis., Design: Step-by-step video illustration of our surgical technique with clarification of surgical principles., Setting: Tertiary care center., Intervention: A mechanical bowel preparation is given before surgery. A 10-mm port is placed in the umbilicus, and 3 other 5-mm auxiliary ports are placed in the right and left iliac fossa and in the suprapubic region. Dissection starts with development of both medial pararectal spaces. The retrocervical region is approached, and the bowel lesion is isolated. A suture is placed into the endometriosis bowel lesion to facilitate invagination into the stapler. A circular stapler is inserted into the rectum, and the anvil is opened at the level of the endometriosis lesion. Each end of the suture held by 2 graspers are pushed dorsally, whereas the stapling device is gently pushed ventrally, imbricating the delineated area. The stapler is closed, including the endometriosis area. After reassuring that the posterior part of the mesentery is free, the device is fired, excising only the anterior wall of the rectum., Conclusion: Disc resection is the technique of choice to treat a focal bowel endometriosis lesion <3 cm., (Copyright © 2019 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis with the aim to answer whether operative laparoscopy is an effective treatment in a woman with demonstrated endometriosis compared with alternative treatments. Moreover, we aimed to assess the risks of operative laparoscopy compared with those of alternatives. In addition, we aimed to systematically review the literature on the impact of patient preference on decision making around surgery., Data Sources: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov, CINAHL, Scopus, OpenGrey, and Web of Science from inception through May 2019. In addition, a manual search of reference lists of relevant studies was conducted., Methods of Study Selection: Published and unpublished randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in any language describing a comparison between surgery and any other intervention were included, with particular reference to timing and its impact on pain and fertility. Studies reporting on keywords including, but not limited to, endometriosis, laparoscopy, pelvic pain, and infertility were included. In the anticipated absence of RCTs on patient preference, all original research on this topic was considered eligible., Tabulation, Integration, and Results: In total, 1990 studies were reviewed. Twelve studies were identified as being eligible for inclusion to assess outcomes of pain (n = 6), fertility (n = 7), quality of life (n = 1), and disease progression (n = 3). Seven studies of interest were identified to evaluate patient preferences. There is evidence that operative laparoscopy may improve overall pain levels at 6 months compared with diagnostic laparoscopy (risk ratio [RR], 2.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.61-4.34; p <.001; 2 RCTs, 102 participants; low-quality evidence). Because the quality of the evidence was very low, it is uncertain if operative laparoscopy improves live birth rates. Operative laparoscopy probably yields little or no difference regarding clinical pregnancy rates compared with diagnostic laparoscopy (RR, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.99-1.92; p = .06; 4 RCTs, 624 participants; moderate-quality evidence). It is uncertain if operative laparoscopy yields a difference in adverse outcomes when compared with diagnostic laparoscopy (RR, 1.98; 95% CI, 0.84-4.65; p = .12; 5 RCTs, 554 participants; very-low-quality evidence). No studies reported on the progression of endometriosis to a symptomatic state or progression of extent of disease in terms of volume of lesions and locations in asymptomatic women with endometriosis. We found no studies that reported on the timing of surgery. No quantitative or qualitative studies specifically aimed at elucidating the factors informing a woman's choice for surgery were identified., Conclusion: Operative laparoscopy may improve overall pain levels but may have little or no difference with respect to fertility-related or adverse outcomes when compared with diagnostic laparoscopy. Additional high-quality RCTs, including comparing surgery to medical management, are needed, and these should report adverse events as an outcome. Studies on patient preference in surgical decision making are needed (International Prospective Register of Systematic Review registration number: CRD42019135167)., (Copyright © 2019 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To show technical highlights of a nerve-sparing laparoscopic eradication of deep infiltrating endometriosis with rectal and parametrial resection according to the Negrar method., Design: Stepwise demonstration of the technique with narrated video footage., Setting: Tertiary care endometriosis unit. Bowel endometriosis accounts for about 12% of the total cases of endometriosis. Most frequently, rectal infiltration also means parametrial infiltration from the widespread infiltrating disease. Its removal with inadequate anatomical surgical knowledge may lead to severe damage to visceral pelvic innervation, causing bladder, rectal, and sexual function impairments and lasting lifelong. Nerve-sparing techniques, which are the heritage of onco-gynecologic surgery, have been described to have lower post-operative bladder, rectal, and sexual dysfunctions than classical approaches., Interventions: Laparoscopic excision of deep infiltrating endometriosis was performed by following the nerve-sparing Negrar technique in 6 steps: step 0-adhesiolysis, ovarian surgery, and removal of the involved peritoneal tissues; step 1-opening of pre-sacral space, development of avascular spaces, and identification and preservation of pelvic sympathetic fibers of the inferior mesenteric plexus, superior hypogastric plexus, upper hypogastric nerves, and lumbosacral sympathetic trunk and ganglia; step 2-dissection of parametrial planes, isolation of ureteral course, lateral parametrectomy, and preservation of sympathetic fibers of postero-lateral parametrium and lower mesorectum (the lower hypogastric nerves and proximal part of the inferior hypogastric plexus or pelvic plexus); step 3-posterior parametrectomy, deep uterine vein identification, and preservation of the parasympathetic pelvic splanchnic nerves and the cranial and middle part of the mixed inferior hypogastric plexus in caudad posterior parametrium and lower mesorectal planes; step 4-preserving the caudad part of the inferior hypogastric plexus in postero-lateral parametrial ligaments; step 5-preserving the caudad part of the inferior hypogastric plexus in paravaginal planes; and step 6-rectal resection and colorectal anastomosis., Conclusion: As shown in this case, the laparoscopic nerve-sparing complete excision of endometriosis is a feasible and reproducible technique in expert hands and, as reported in the literature, offers good results in terms of bladder morbidity reduction with higher satisfaction than the classical technique., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To describe the surgical approaches and excisional techniques used in an extreme case of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) affecting the lateral pelvic side wall., Design: A technical video showing the excision of advanced lateral DIE., Setting: An academic tertiary care hospital., Interventions: A 32-year-old woman, gravida 2, para 1, presented for definitive surgical management of endometriosis-associated pelvic pain. Intraoperative findings revealed severe retroperitoneal fibrosis tethering the external iliac vein, internal iliac artery, obturator nerve, medial umbilical ligament, and ureter. The patient underwent laparoscopic management of the DIE involving the lateral pelvic side wall. We demonstrate the surgical methods and tools required to overcome a unique endometriotic nodule that would not allow for traditional lysis of adhesions from the pelvic side wall. Instead, we used a nontraditional surgical approach by tunneling under the external iliac vascular to tackle the dissection from a lateral to medial direction to free the obturator nerve and internal iliac artery from the ureter and endometriotic nodule., Conclusion: Extreme cases of DIE involving the pelvic side wall require surgical finesse when normal planes of dissection are obliterated. Knowledge of retroperitoneal anatomy is critical to overcome unexpected lateral pelvic side wall endometriosis because the disease is rarely confined to the surface. Innovative surgical thinking complemented by an array of surgical tools will ultimately allow the surgeon to master these difficult endometriotic resections., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)