Introduction
Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition predominantly
affecting women in their reproductive years. Estimated prevalence
rates are approximately 10%, but in cases of sub fertility can be as
high as 25-40%. 1 Symptoms vary, but for many women it can be a
debilitating condition with a significant impact on their quality of
life.2 Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometriotic glands
and stroma out-with the uterine cavity. Three types of endometriosis
are generally described: peritoneal, ovarian and deep infiltrating
endometriosis (DIE), with the latter being defined as the infiltration
of endometrial deposits of ≥5mm into surrounding tissue. 3 The areas
most commonly affected include the uterosacral ligaments (USL),
recto-sigmoid colon, recto-vaginal septum (RVS), vagina and bladder.
The diagnosis and management of severe endometriosis
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Citation: Mallick R. The diagnosis and management of severe endometriosis. MOJ Surg. 2017;4(5):107‒112. DOI: 10.15406/mojs.2017.04.00087
Bladder endometriosis can be diagnosed by TVS, ideally while the
patient has a full bladder to facilitate the detection of the more discrete
nodules in the bladder wall.18 TVS is reported to have a high accuracy
(91-95%) in the detection of bladder nodules. 18,19 MRI is also useful
particularly for smaller bladder lesions. 20 Cystoscopy can also be
beneficial to preoperatively assess the size/position of a bladder nodule
and it relationship to the ureteric orifices and if indicated a biopsy can
be taken for histological diagnosis4 (Figure 2). Renal ultrasound, MRI
or computerized tomography (CT) urogram is the investigations of
choice to assess endometriosis affecting the ureter and the presence
of hydronephrosis. In the presence of hydronephrosis, consideration
should be given to performing a radioisotope (MAG3 or DMSA)
scan to assess renal function. Pre-operatively it is thus recommended
that all patients with suspected DIE should have detailed imaging,
whether TVS or MRI and renal ultrasound, to assess bowel, ureter and
bladder involvement to fully prepare for further management. Further
investigations such as barium enema, colonoscopy and radioisotope
scans may be required in selected patients. The decision on the type
of imaging should be decided by local protocols and expertise, but
ideally the approach should be multidisciplinary between surgeons
and radiologists.
Figure 1 Misjudged and retroperitoneal and vaginal endometriosis.
Figure 2 Preoperatively assess the size/position of a bladder nodule.
Bladder and ureteric endometriosis
DIE involving the urinary tract is uncommon; however its exact
prevalence is not entirely know. It is thought to occur in approximately
1-2% of patients with endometriosis and involves the bladder in
90% of these cases. 18,21 Bladder endometriosis can be described as
superficial or deep depending on the degree of invasion. Deep bladder
endometriosis involves invasion of the muscular is and symptoms can
include dysuria, frequency, nocturia, bladder spasms, suprapubic pain
and haematuria.18 Superficial endometriosis describes endometriosis
on the peritoneal surface overlying the bladder.
Endometriosis involving the ureter can either be described as
intrinsic or extrinsic, with the latter the more prevalent. In extrinsic
cases, the ureter is compressed by the surrounding endometriotic
tissue, with resultant fibrosis, hydronephrosis and impaired renal
function in up to 30% of cases 6 (Figure 3). Intrinsic involvement,
defined as endometriotic tissue infiltrating into the ureteral muscular
is a rare occurrence. Prior to surgery involving the urinary tract, many
surgeons advocate the prophylactic insertion of ureteric catheters/
stents. There is limited evidence in the literature to suggest that stenting
actually reduces ureteric injury, 22 but the use of stents undoubtedly
improve visualization of the ureters and hence may make dissection
technically easier. They are also particularly useful in duplex urinary
systems, where unusual anatomy may increase the risk of injury.
Size 6F Stamey catheters may be inserted pre-operatively using an
operating cystoscopy and removed at the end of the procedure without
the need for radiographic image intensification. The postoperative
insertion of double J stents is indicated if the ureter has been opened
and re-anastomosed or re-implanted into the bladder or if there has
been extensive ureteriolysis and a potential risk of devascularisation.
Alternatively some advocate the primary insertion of double J stents;
again this is generally surgeon’s preference rather than evidence
based. If double J stents are inserted, they should generally be
removed 6 weeks later with a check urogram performed after removal
to exclude ureteric leaks. In cases of superficial bladder disease it is
often possible to shave the disease off the peritoneal surface of the
bladder. However in cases of deep infiltration of the bladder wall
full excision is indicated. The bladder should be mobilised first, by
opening the uterovesical fold and the dome of the bladder then opened
to reveal the extent of the nodule, assessing carefully its relationship
to the ureteric orifices. The nodule should then be excised in its
entirety and consideration should be given to inserting prophylactic
double J stents particularly if the distance between the border of the
lesion and the ureteric orifice is <2cm 14 (Figure 4). The bladder is
closed using a double layer (although many advocate the use of one
layer) of interrupted or continuous absorbable sutures such as 2/0
polyglactin and closure checked using methylene blue dye. A free
draining catheter should be left in for at least 7days, ideally with a
check cystogram to ensure there is no leak prior to removal of the
catheter. Laparoscopic partial cystectomy has been found to be a
safe and effective treatment for bladder endometriosis in multiple
studies with symptomatic improvement in 95-100% of patient, few
complications noted and low recurrence rates.14,21,23
With regards to ureteric disease, surgical management of
such cases is dependent on numerous factors including patient
symptoms, the type of ureteric involvement and also the presence
of hydronephrosis/significant strictures In the vast majority of
cases the conservative approach with ureteriolysis to mobilize and
free the ureterand resection of the surrounding endometriotic tissue
and fibrosis may be sufficient. In rare cases where the muscular is
involved and or there is significant stenosis, resection of a portion
of the ureter with either end-to-end anastomosis or re-implantation
with/without a poses hitch may be necessary (Figure 5). Choice of
technique is dependent of the location and size of the resected ureteric
segment,6 however both techniques have been successfully described
The diagnosis and management of severe endometriosis
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Citation: Mallick R. The diagnosis and management of severe endometriosis. MOJ Surg. 2017;4(5):107‒112. DOI: 10.15406/mojs.2017.04.00087
in the literature with significant improvement in symptoms and low
complication and recurrence rates.21,24 In very rare cases renal function
can be significantly reduced in the presence of severe hydronephrosis
and in such cases consideration should be given to nephrectomy due
to the risks of recurrent infection and vascular hypertension. This can
be performed laparoscopically in a multidisciplinary setting at the
time of the primary surgery for endometriosis.25,26
Figure 3 Resultant fibrosis, hydronephrosis and impaired renal function.
Figure 4 Distance between the border of the lesion and the ureteric orifice is
<2cm.
Figure 5 End-to-end anastomosis or re-implantation with/without a poses
hitch.
Figure 6 Rectal shaving is performed by excising a serosal disc of endometriosis
off the rectal wall and overlying sutures placed to reinforce the excised area.
Bowel endometriosis
The exact prevalence of bowel endometriosis is unknown, although
it is estimated that 5-12% of women with endometriosis will have
bowel involvement, equating to 150,000 to 300,000 women in the
UK.27,28 The rectum and recto-sigmoid tend to account for up to 93%
of bowel lesions followed by the ileum, appendix and caecum. 29 The
depth of involvement can range from serosal to mucosal and lesions
can be solitary or multiple. Symptoms vary, but most commonly
include dyschezia, constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, passing of mucus
per rectum and cyclical rectal bleeding. The management of disease
involving the bowel remains a highly controversial and contentious
issue. Medical treatment has been found to be largely inadequate
for rectal disease. 30,31 Surgical treatment and the complete excision
of endometriosis appears to offer good long term symptomatic
relief,32–34 however this may involve significant bowel surgery and the
potential for major complications. Conversely less invasive surgery is
associated with fewer complications, but incomplete resection carries
a higher risk of disease recurrence and generally does not confer the
long-term symptomatic benefits seen with complete resection. 27 Two
surgical approaches are generally employed, the more radical approach
involving segmental bowel resection or the more conservative
approach involving either rectal shaving or disc resection. Rectal
shaving is performed by excising a serosal disc of endometriosis off
the rectal wall and overlying sutures placed to reinforce the excised
area (Figure 6). Disc resection involves removal of the endometriotic
nodule by resecting a full thickness “disc” of bowel; this can be done
using a circular stapler or excising the area and suturing the defect
laparoscopically. The reported outcomes in the literature following
disc resection are positive and a prospective analysis of 500 cases
reported high conception rates following surgery with low major
complication and recurrence rates.35 However there are limitations to
this technique; it tends to be more suitable for lesions on the anterior
surface of the bowel and small nodules involving less than 50% of
the circumference of the rectal wall. 28 The technique is generally not
suitable for large rectal nodules (>3cm) and in cases where there are
multiple bowel lesions. In cases where large nodules are “shaved”
there is invariably some residual disease left behind. Remordiga et
al.36 demonstrated that at least one third of patients undergoing disc
The diagnosis and management of severe endometriosis
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Citation: Mallick R. The diagnosis and management of severe endometriosis. MOJ Surg. 2017;4(5):107‒112. DOI: 10.15406/mojs.2017.04.00087
resection have persistent disease 36 however controversy exists as to
whether this is symptomatically significant. The current literature
suggests recurrence rates are significantly higher for disc excision
when compared to segmental resection. 37 Segmental bowel resection
involves resection of the pelvic endometriosis leaving the residual
disease attached to the rectum and mobilisation of the rectal tube
involving lateral and anterior retroperitoneal dissection. The bowel
is then transected below the level of disease and to a clear margin
above the proximal end of the disease. Primary anastomosis is then
performed using a circular anastomosis gun and the integrity of the
anastomosis checked by filling the pelvis with fluid and distending
the rectum with air insufflated via a rigid sigmoidoscopy. If an air
leak is visible, the anastomosis is inadequate and a defunctioning
stoma is performed. Over the past 10 years, a large number of studies
have shown significant improvements in pain and overall quality of
life following radical surgery.32–34 However it can be associated with
significant complications. Both minor and major complications have
been reported following radical surgery including fistula formation
(0-14%),27,32 anastomotic leaks (2.2-8%)hemorrhage (1-11%), 38
infection (1-3%),38 ureteric injury (4.1%)32 and long term bladder (1-
71%) and bowel dysfunction (1-15%). 38 Kondo et al. reported a total
major complication rate of 4.6% of patients undergoing any form of
bowel surgery and 24, 17.6 and 6.7% for those undergoing segmental
resection, disc resection and shaving respectively. 27 Darai et al. 15
reported a 12.6% major complication rate following laparoscopic
segmental bowel resection. 39 Long-term bladder and bowel
dysfunction (urinary retention, tenesmus, frequency of defecation)
are often the most disabling long-term complications encountered by
patients following radical surgery. Rectal shaving certainly avoids
the need for deep lateral rectal dissection and hence preserves the
pelvic autonomic nerves and thus as expected fewer bladder and
bowel complications are reported post-operatively, 35 however once
again this must be balanced again the risk of residual disease and
recurrence. More recently nerve sparing rectal resection techniques
have been described in the literature with identification and sparing
of the hypo gastric and pelvic splanchnic nerves. This technique
when compared to the standard technique appears to be associated
with significantly less bladder/bowel and sexual dysfunction.40,41 Thus
there is still no definitive consensus on which approach is the “best”
technique to treat bowel endometriosis; ultimately the aim of treating
DIE affecting the bowel should focus on the long-term resolution of
bowel symptoms with the fewest complications. Detailed counseling
and a multidisciplinary approach is key. Ultimately the surgical
technique employed should be tailored to patient’s symptoms, pre-
operative assessment and surgical findings. A balance must be made
against suboptimal resection and symptom recurrence, and extensive
surgical excision and the potential for major complications
Use of robotic surgery for the treatment of
DIE
Recently the use of robotic surgery has increased in the treatment
of DIE, however most of these studies are from outside the UK and
the current recommendation from NICE is that a surgical robot should
only be used in gynecology in a research setting. Almost all of the
studies are observational case series with the largest published being
a retrospective review of 164patients with stage 4 endometriosis. 42
This study described a lower conversion to laparotomy rate with
the robotic approach (0.6% vs. 10%). Another study by Dulemba et
al. compared operative time (77 vs. 72min), blood loss (29 vs. 25mL)
and complication rates (1.1% vs. 0%) in robot-assisted and standard
laparoscopy43 and found no significant differences. However they
did note that the number of biopsies confirming endometriosis was
higher in the robotic group (80%vs 56.8% P<0.001) and hypothesised
that robotic surgery, with its improved visual acuity, may have the
ability to excise endometriosis more precisely. In the absence of any
randomized case-control studies, it is difficult to recommend its usage
in routine practice, however as its use becomes more prevalent in the
UK there is a definite need for larger multi-centre trials.
Fertility sparing surgery
Women with confirmed endometriosis, who desire to conceive,
should be referred to secondary care specialist services. Hormonal
treatment is not an option in this group as this does not improve fertility
and may cause further delays in surgical and assisted reproductive
treatments that are known to potentially improve fertility.4 The benefit
of surgical treatment to improve fertility in patients with endometriosis
is well established in the literature by three Cochrane reviews 44–46
and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
(ESHRE) guidelines on endometriosis.4
In women with minimal to mild endometriosis, there is evidence that
operative laparoscopy significantly improves chances of conception.45
It is suggested that where possible this could be done at the time of
initial laparoscopy. What remains unclear to date is the comparative
surgical effectiveness of the various treatment techniques. There is
also evidence that laparoscopic surgical excision of moderate to severe
endometriosis and adhesiolysis improves spontaneous pregnancy rates
by as much as 57-69% (moderate endometriosis) and 52–68% (severe
endometriosis).47,48 With no treatment spontaneous conception rates
can remain as low as 0% in severe endometriosis and 30% in moderate
endometriosis cases.49 For patients with endometriomas, excision of
the endometrioma results in higher pregnancy rates when compared
to drainage and electro-coagulation of the cyst. Both the techniques
are known to deplete the ovarian reserves 44 and this should be kept
in mind and discussed with the patient before surgery, especially in
cases of recurrent endometriomas. With the improvements in egg
freezing technology, this might be a possible option for this group of
patients in the future. For patients with rectovaginal disease complete
excision of the disease including bowel resection and anastomosis
may have higher spontaneous pregnancy rates when compared to
limited excision of endometriosis without bowel resection,49 however
the severity of symptoms rather than fertility should be the deciding
factor when it comes to extensive resection.
Conclusion
Severe endometriosis is a complex condition requiring a
multidisciplinary approach in a tertiary referral centre and early
referral is essential. Full pre-operative planning including detailed
imaging is vital to assess the full extent of the disease, give thorough
counseling and plan appropriate surgical management. Radical
excision of DIE involving both bladder and bowel appears to have
good success rates with significant improvements in quality of life,
improved fertility and low recurrence rates. However such extensive
procedures carry both short and long-term risks that patients must be
fully aware of before embarking down the aggressive surgical route.
The diagnosis and management of severe endometriosis
111
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Citation: Mallick R. The diagnosis and management of severe endometriosis. MOJ Surg. 2017;4(5):107‒112. DOI: 10.15406/mojs.2017.04.00087
Acknowledgements
None.
Conflict of interest
The author declares no conflict of interest.
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