Surgical lysis of nerve entrapment caused by retroperitoneal fibrosis/adhesions; two case reports and a literature review

Introduction: Retroperitoneal fibrosis (adhesions) in the pelvic area is rare and not well known in gynecology. However, their presence can cause compression neuropathy leading to severe pain symptoms involving the lower extremities. A neuropelveological approach can be applied in dealing with such cases in diagnosis and management. Objective: To demonstrate neurolysis of sacral nerves in patients with retroperitoneal fibrosis (adhesions). Case presentations: Case 1: A 43-year-old gravidity 1 parity 1 female patient with known endometriosis presented with dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and left-sided sciatica. Gynecological examination revealed a rectovaginal nodule and full obliteration of pouch of Douglas. Robot-assisted laparoscopic sacral neurolysis and dissection of pouch of Douglas with rectal nodule shaving was performed. The patient was symptom free 6 months postoperatively. Case 2: A 49 years old gravidity 2 parity 2 female patient presented with severe pain on the left groin and leg, dysuria, and constipation, which required frequent manual evacuation of the feces. The begin of her symptoms coincided with a previous laparoscopic total hysterectomy, where she experienced postsurgical hemorrhage. Laparoscopic sacral neurolysis with adhesiolysis was performed. The patient was symptom free 6 months postoperatively. Conclusion: Pelvic retroperitoneal fibrosis (adhesions) are rarely encountered in gynecology. However, they should be included in differential diagnosis in patients presenting with pelvic pain accompanied by lower extremity pain, urinary, and/or bowel symptoms. Since presurgical diagnosis of fibrosis (adhesions) is hard with visualization techniques such as transvaginal ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging, a thorough neuropelveological examination can be helpful in such cases.