Cystoscopy-assisted laparoscopy for bladder endometriosis: modified light-to-light technique for bladder preservation

Endometriosis is a gynecologic disease with causes still unclear. It was first described in 1860, but its most accepted etiopathogeny postulating retrograde menstruation was proposed in 1921 ( 1 , 2 ). Endometriosis is the presence of stroma and/or endometrial epithelium outside the cavity and the uterine muscles, invading the peritoneum or embedding on the walls of the pelvic organs ( 3 ). It is an estrogen-dependent disorder associated with chronic pelvic pain and infertility ( 4 ). It is estimated that approximately 15% of women of reproductive age are affected by endometriosis ( 5 ). In 1979, the American Fertility Society initially classified endometriosis in 4 stages of severity, but reviewed this classification in 1985 ( 6 , 7 ). The present classification was introduced in 1997, whereby it stages endometriosis as superficial when it affects the parietal and visceral layers of the peritoneal membrane, and deep when there is more than 5cm penetration of the walls of the organs ( 8 ). The most common sites affected by endometriosis in the pelvic cavity are the torus uterinus, the posterior fornix, the uterosacral ligaments, the rectum, the vagina and the urinary tract ( 9 ). However, it may affect other sites, such as the diaphragm, the umbilical cord, the ileum, the lungs, the pleura, the pericardium and the brain ( 10 , 11 ). Endometriosis may cause dysmenorrhea, even at the beginning of a woman´s fertile age, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and peri-menstrual pain ( 12 ). Another frequent disorder is infertility, occurring in up to 60% of the cases. Specifically, in the urinary tract, there is a 0.3% to 12% incidence of endometriosis; however, it is usually reported as 1%-2% ( 13 ), and the most commonly affected sites are the bladder (85%), ureter (9%), kidneys (4%), and the urethra (2%), as shown in Figure 1A below. Figure 1A Endometriosis incidence in utrinary tract When the bladder is affected, 70% of women present pain during urination, dysuria, suprapubic pain and hematuria, especially during the peri-menstrual period. There is a 20%-35% occurrence of hematuria due to vesical mucous infiltration. Menouria (hematuria during the menstrual period) is infrequent ( 14 ). Urinary tract involvement may be represented by nodules with retractions and/or distortions of the normal anatomy ( 15 ), in addition to adherences to the vesico-uterine space. Partial cystectomy – especially by laparoscopic means - is the most effective treatment for deep endometriosis when the bladder is affected. This surgical procedure is excisional and consists of the removal of the entire bladder wall affected by endometriosis. For this type of procedure, the bladder must ideally present good functional capacity, show a single lesion and be located >5mm of the urethral meatus.

Int Braz J Urol. 2017; 43: 87-94

From September 2006 to May 2012, 25 patients with initial diagnosis of deep endometriosis affecting the bladder wall were treated by the cystoscopy-assisted videolaparoscopic cystectomy with the light-to-light technique ( 16 ). (The association of both procedures is meant to identify and delimit the extent of the intravesical endometriotic lesion, to determine the resection limits, as well as to perform an optimal reconstruction of the organ, aiming for its maximum preservation. The patient’s average age was 33.4 years, ranging from 27 to 47 years. After clinical assessment and a physical examination with bimanual palpation, the patients were tested for serum urea and creatinine levels, urine (proteinuria or microscopic hematuria) and urine culture, all of which were normal. All patients were submitted to transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) to diagnose the disease ( Figure-1B ), and to magnetic resonance (MRI) of the pelvis for surgical planning purposes (Figure- 1C ). The vesical lesion depicted on MRI is characterized by hyper-signal on T1 and hypo-signal on T2 ( 17 , 18 ). Figure 1B Transvaginal ultrasound with endometriotic endovesical lesion. (N) Figure 1C MRI of the pelvis depicting hypo-signal on T2 (lesion is highlighted). The technique we used consisted of conventional laparoscopy, with the patient under general anesthesia and in a horizontal supine (dorsal decubitus) position, with the lower limbs spread out for the cystoscopy procedure. The umbilical scar is punctured with a Veress needle and pneumoperitoneum is performed with CO2 initially up to 20mmHg until introduction of a 10mm umbilical trocar. Upon visibility of the abdominal cavity, the pressure is reduced to up to 12mmHg and 3 trocars are introduced, of which one 10mm trocar in the umbilical scar, one 10mm trocar in the bisector of the imaginary line going from the anterior superior iliac crest to the umbilical scar on the right, and one 5mm in the exact same position on the left side, as per the representation below. A videolaparoscopy subsequently performed inventory of the abdominal and pelvic cavity and identified a solid nodular lesion on the vesical dome and vesico-uterine fossa, at times with significant adherence of such organs, as shown in Figure-1D (a) . Figure 1D A - Endometriosis in laparoscopic view, B - Endometriosis in cistoscopic view. Figure 1D, (a) (left): laparoscopic view; ( B =Bladder, N =Node, U =Uterus); Figure 1D, (b) (right): cystoscopic view; (N=node) The procedure above was followed by positioning the transvaginal uterine manipulator and performance of the light-to-light cystoscopy technique, originally described by Seracchioli et al. The endoscopic diagnosis was confirmed by visualization of tissue compatible with endometriosis on the vesical mucous surface. These lesions were blistered purple-blue nodules, containing endovesical material, as shown in Figure1D (b). The cystoscopy-assisted partial laparoscopic cystectomy with the light-to-light technique was then performed with some modifications, such as initially not inserting urethral catheters. As the lesions affected the entire bladder wall, a partial cystectomy was performed assisted by cystoscopic visualization throughout the procedure. Both surgeons identified and delimited the lesion, keeping a margin of at least 5mm of healthy tissue. Biopsies of the lower, right lateral, left lateral and superior margins were performed after exeresis of the lesion to eliminate permanence of the disease. The subsequent vesical reconstruction consisted of a one-layer suture with monofilament absorbable 3.0 thread, with continuous cystoscopy monitoring, to ensure better visualization of the suture and final checking of the procedure, thus allowing maximum possible preservation of the healthy vesical tissue ( Figure 1E ). Figure 1E C e E - Endometriosis ressection and suture in laparoscopic view D e F - Endometriosis ressection and suture in cistoscopic view. Clockwise: c = partial cystectomy, laparoscopic view; d = partial cystectomy, cystoscopic view; e = cystorraphy, laparoscopic view; f = cystorraphy, cystoscopic view. All patients maintained a urethral catheter for 7 days.

Of the 25 treated patients, 15 had already undergone previous laparoscopy for treatment of pelvic endometriosis and endometriomas, and 10 had never had any treatment. Surgical time ranged from 110 to 180 minutes, with an average of 137.7 minutes. The resected lesions varied in size, ranging from 1.5 to 5.5cm, with an average of 2.75cm. No significant bleeding was observed and average length of hospital stay was 24 hours. Follow-up was made every six months by means of clinical assessment and a cystoscopy, with total follow-up time of 32.4 months in average (ranging from 12 to 78 months) ( Table-1 ). Table 1 Date table. Patients Age (Years) Nodule (CM) Surgical Time (Minutes) Follow-UP (Months) 1 30 2.0 180 78 2 27 3.0 180 72 3 28 2.5 172 60 4 33 1.8 175 50 5 29 2.2 168 45 6 42 3.3 150 42 7 42 3.7 155 41 8 36 4.0 160 36 9 36 2.5 120 34 10 29 2.7 120 33 11 33 3.0 132 29 12 31 3.3 128 29 13 34 2.5 124 28 14 47 2.0 120 26 15 33 1.5 110 26 16 30 2.0 122 25 17 32 2.7 128 24 18 33 5.5 150 24 19 29 2.8 127 20 20 28 1.7 118 18 21 30 2.5 120 18 22 35 3.1 115 15 23 38 3.5 126 14 24 39 2.2 111 12 25 32 2.8 122 12 AVERAGE 33.4 years 2.75 cm 137.7 minutes 32.4 months There was no relapse of the disease in all cases. The patients presented normal vesical physiology without alterations in bladder filling or emptying, evidenced by clinical assessment and cystoscopy.

The morpho-physiology of the vesical endometriosis lesions may vary according to the menstrual cycle. However, the lesions are better identified during menstruation. At cystoscopy, these lesions may appear in several colors, such as shades of red, blue, brown or even black. The urothelium is usually rarely ulcerated ( 19 ). Biopsies for differential diagnosis with urothelial carcinoma have been described, but since it rarely invades the mucous, it is difficult to reach a diagnosis by this means. The differential diagnoses are hyperactive bladder, interstitial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome), urethral syndrome and urothelial carcinoma ( 20 ). In patients with clinical suspicion, diagnosis may be made via a transvaginal ultrasound and, in some cases, by magnetic resonance, as previously described. However, the most effective diagnostic method, whether for superficial or deep lesions, is laparoscopy ( 21 ). Treatment of pelvic endometriosis affecting the bladder may depend on several factors, such as age, symptom intensity, fertility, extent of the disease, presence in other organs and level of menstrual dysfunction. As the disease originates outside the bladder (in the peritoneum), subsequently invading it, a vesical transurethral resection is usually an ineffective method ( 22 , 23 ). The disease is hormone (estrogen)-dependent, therefore the treatment of superficial lesions is based on hormonal blockade. The most commonly adopted therapy for this purpose is the association of GnRH analogues, progestogens and oral contraceptives ( 24 ). This treatment aims at temporarily suppressing endometriosis, reason why it is more recommended for younger patients without deep endometriosis who wish to preserve their fertility. An intrauterine device (IUD) with levonorgestrel may also be used in these more conservative cases, in addition to acting as an adjuvant in corrective surgeries. The IUD importance rests on the fact that is has a duration of up to 5 years and maintains fertility upon discontinuance of its use ( 25 ). There are some options available for cases of deep vesical endometriosis, depending on the extent and site of the lesion in relation to its distance from the urethral meatus. A transurethral resection with simultaneous use of analogues may be performed. However, the relapse rates in such cases are of approximately 25%-35%, and there are high rates of vesical perforation in diseases of greater extension ( 26 ). Therefore, better results are obtained with partial cystectomy in terms of cure of the disease, whether the approach is open, laparoscopic or robotic-assisted ( 27 , 28 ), with conventional laparoscopic partial cystectomy being the method of choice ( 27 ). Several studies report surgical results with 95%-100% symptom remission rates and low rates of relapse ( 28 ). The simultaneous association of cystoscopy with laparoscopy may guide the surgeon in terms of laparoscopic identification of the lesion, with better visibility of the vesico-uterine space, identification and dissection of the nodule, allowing exeresis of its total extension, and verification of the margins free of the disease. Healthy 5mm margins of the bladder and a distance of at least 1cm of the urethral meatus should ideally be preserved ( 29 ). The laparoscopic approach has as advantages less blood loss, less time of hospital stay, less use of pain killers and better aesthetic results ( 30 ). We also agree that the interaction between gynecologists and urologists is relevant for the best treatment of this disease and for the performance of successful procedures.

A cystoscopy-assisted partial laparoscopic cystectomy with a modified light-to-light technique is a method that provides adequate identification of the lesion limits, intra or extravesically. It also allows a safe reconstruction of the organ aiming at its maximum preservation.