Outcome of laparoscopic ureterolysis for ureteral endometriosis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the adequacy of laparoscopic ureterolysis as a primary treatment option for ureteral endometriosis. DESIGN: Prospective collaborative cohort study. SETTING: Gynecologic departments of three university hospitals. PATIENT(S): Women with ureteral endometriosis exhibiting moderate-to-severe hydronephrosis on preoperative intravenous pyelography. INTERVENTION(S): Laparoscopic ureterolysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Cure rate, disesase recurrence. RESULT(S): Thirty-three patients underwent laparoscopic ureterolysis during the study period. Bilateral involvement of ureters was found in 4 (12.1%) cases. In women with unilateral lesions the left ureter was more frequently affected (24/29 vs. 5/29). Ureteral involvement was associated with uterosacral ligaments endometriosis in 65.5% (22/34) of cases. No inadvertent ureteral injuries occurred during ureterolysis. A partial wall resection of the ureter was necessary in one case and a segmental ureteral resection with vescicopsoas hitch was required in a women with intrinsic ureteral endometriosis. The median (range) follow-up time was 16 months (range: 3-53 months). Thirty-two patients (96.7%) had a patent ureter on the 3-month postoperative intravenous pyelography. The recurrence rate of ureteral lesions was 12.1% (4/33). CONCLUSION(S): Our findings suggest that a conservative laparoscopic approach is an effective treatment option in most patients with ureteral endometriosis exhibiting moderate-to-severe hydronephrosis.