Major and minor complications after anterior rectal resection for deeply infiltrating endometriosis

Purpose The aim of the present study was to analyze major and minor complications—including long-term impairment of intestinal, bladder, and sexual function—following surgery for deeply infiltrating endometriosis using anterior rectal resection.

Patients who had undergone anterior rectal resection due to endometriosis between 2001 and 2011 were included (n = 113). Clinical and surgical data, as well as minor and major complications, were recorded. A questionnaire was sent to the patients and also to a healthy control group (n = 100).

Major complications occurred in 15.9% of cases and minor complications in 15%. Patients with postoperative ileostomies (n = 8) initially had ultralow anastomoses significantly more often. The questionnaire response rate was 77%, with a mean follow-up period of 85.9 months. Weak urinary flow was reported by 22.4% of the patients: a feeling of residual urine by 18.4%; more than one bowel movement/day by 57.5%; and insufficient lubrication during intercourse by 36.5%. These results differed significantly from the control group. Subgroup analysis showed no statistical associations between questionnaire responses and major or minor complications, ultralow anastomoses, bilateral dissection of the sacrouterine ligaments, or dissection of the vagina and rectovaginal space.

The major complication rate was consistent with the literature, but there were fewer minor complications. Patients with bowel anastomoses below 6 cm (ultralow) should receive information postoperatively about the high risk of insufficiency and should be closely monitored. The high rate of bladder, bowel, and sexual function impairment, and inadequate data make further prospective studies on this topic necessary. Similar content being viewed by others

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The contribution of K. Proske to this publication was performed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for obtaining the doctoral degree “Dr. med”. Author contributions SPR project development. HK data collection in the Department of Surgery. NT data collection. KP data collection and postgraduate. WA statistician. SB data analysis. WH project development in the Department of Surgery. MWB data analysis. JL project development, manuscript writing, and data analysis. Author information Authors and Affiliations Corresponding author Ethics declarations Conflict of interest Author S.P. Renner declares that he has no conflict of interest. Author H. Kessler declares that he has no conflict of interest. Author N. Topal declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author K. Proske declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author W. Adler declares that he has no conflict of interest. Author S. Burghaus declares that she has no conflict of interest. Author W. Haupt declares that he has no conflict of interest. Author M.W. Beckmann declares that he has no conflict of interest. Author J. Lermann declares that he has no conflict of interest. Human rights and participants All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Renner, S.P., Kessler, H., Topal, N. et al. Major and minor complications after anterior rectal resection for deeply infiltrating endometriosis. Arch Gynecol Obstet 295, 1277–1285 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4360-6 Received: Accepted: Published: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4360-6