The role of appendectomy at the time of laparoscopic surgery for benign gynecologic conditions

Ann Peters, Peters A, Mansuria SM, Suketu Mansuria, Suketu M Mansuria
Current opinion in obstetrics & gynecology · 2018 · vol. 30(4) , pp. 237–242 · doi:10.1097/gco.0000000000000466 · PMID:29889113 · W2806001192
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Appendectomy during laparoscopic gynecologic surgery may be beneficial for endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain patients, with appendiceal endometriosis rates varying by patient population.

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Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The risk-benefit ratio of concurrent appendectomy at the time of gynecologic surgery has long been debated and remains controversial. However, emerging data on the appendix's role in chronic pain syndromes point to a previously unrecognized link between gynecologic disorders and appendicular pathology. In this article, we review the indications for appendectomy at the time of laparoscopic gynecologic surgery for the treatment of endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. RECENT FINDINGS: The incidence of appendiceal endometriosis is highly variable depending on the patient population selected. Although rare in patients undergoing appendectomy for acute appendicitis, women with endometriosis may experience rates as high as 9.3-39.0%, especially when suffering from deep infiltrative endometriosis. Appendectomy may also significantly reduce pain in women with unexplained chronic pelvic pain. SUMMARY: Despite lack of prospective data, retrospective studies suggest that appendectomy during gynecologic procedures for chronic pelvic pain and severe endometriosis may be beneficial and necessary to fully address the treatment of these complex gynecologic conditions. In these clinical scenarios, the benefits of laparoscopic appendectomy at the time of the primary gynecologic procedure may outweigh the risks and cost, and should be discussed with patients preoperatively.

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Condition tags

endometriosischronic_pelvic_pain

MeSH descriptors

Appendectomy Chronic Pain Endometriosis Laparoscopy Pelvic Pain Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Pelvic Pain Pelvic Pain

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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Cited by (10)

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