UNASSIGNED: Before endometriosis surgery, it is important to identify deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) to assess the surgical difficulty. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to determine which findings are useful in predicting DIE.
UNASSIGNED: Between 2008 and 2016, 54 patients with adenomyosis underwent total laparoscopic hysterectomy at our hospital. We retrospectively evaluated the intraoperative findings and magnetic resonance imaging (MR) images. The MR images were scored based on the presence of five findings: retroflexed uterus, elevated posterior vaginal fornix, intestinal tethering in the direction of the uterus, faint strands between the uterus and intestine, and fibrotic nodules covering the serosal surface of the uterus.
UNASSIGNED: Of the five findings, intestinal tethering and faint strands between the uterus and intestine showed a sensitivity of 73% and a specificity of 91%-100%, indicating the usefulness of these findings for detecting deep endometriosis lesions. However, finding a retroflexed uterus did not contribute to DIE lesion detection. The sensitivities of an elevated posterior fornix and fibrotic nodules covering the surface of the uterus were as low as 46%-59%, and their specificities were as high as 84%-91%.
UNASSIGNED: Preoperative preparation is essential for patients with intestinal tethering or faint strands between the uterus and intestine on preoperative MRI after obtaining appropriate informed consent.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic reverse submucosal dissection (LRSD) is a standardised surgical technique for removal of rectosigmoid endometriosis which optimises the anatomical dissection plane for excision of endometriotic nodules.
OBJECTIVE: This cohort study assesses the outcomes of the first cohort of women treated by LRSD, for deeply infiltrating rectosigmoid endometriosis.
METHODS: Primary outcomes assessed were complication rate as defined by the Clavien-Dindo system, and completion of the planned LRSD. Secondary outcomes include mucosal breach, specimen margin involvement, length of hospital admission, and a comparison of pre-operative and post-operative pain, bowel function and quality of life surveys. These included the Endometriosis Health Profile Questionnaire (EHP-30), the Knowles-Eccersley-Scott Symptom Questionnaire (KESS) and the Wexner scale.
RESULTS: Of 19 patients treated, one required a segmental resection. The median length of hospital admission was two days (range 1-5) and no post-operative complications occurred. Median pain visual analogue scales (scale 0-10) were higher prior to surgery (dysmenorrhoea 9.0, dyspareunia 7.5, dyschezia 9.0, pelvic pain 6.0) compared to post-surgical median scores (dysmenorrhoea 5.0, dyspareunia 4.0, dyschezia 2.0, pelvic pain 4.0) at a median of six months (range 4-32). Quality of life studies suggested improvement following surgery with pre-operative median EHP-30 and KESS scores (EHP-30: 85 (5-106), KESS score 9 (0-20)) higher than post-operative scores (EHP-30: 48.5 (0-80), KESS score: 3 (0-19)).
CONCLUSIONS: This series highlights the feasibility of LRSD with low associated morbidity as a progression of partial thickness discoid excision (rectal shaving) for the treatment of rectosigmoid deep infiltrating endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether administration of progesterone on the day of oocyte retrieval may reverse accumulation of fluid in the endometrial cavity.
METHODS: A total of 50 patients who underwent assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles with endometrial cavity fluid (ECF) observed by ultrasound at the time of oocyte retrieval were included. Upon the identification of ECF, vaginal administration of natural progesterone was started. Two days later, the endometrial cavity was re-evaluated, and embryo transfer was performed in the absence of ECF.
RESULTS: ECF was absent two days after administration of vaginal progesterone in 47 of the 50 patients (94%). ECF persisted in 3 of the 50 patients (6%). The clinical pregnancy rate per transfer was 34.0%, and the implantation rate was 21.6%.
CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that, in the presence of ECF, administration of intravaginal progesterone in ART cycles must be initiated on the day of follicle aspiration to reverse ECF and to avoid the deleterious effects of fluid on the blastocyst-endometrial interaction.

This review aimed to compare isolated sciatic and sacral nerve root endometriosis in terms of anatomic distribution, patients\' symptoms and history, diagnostics, treatments, and outcomes.
We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Embase from inception to October 2021 using a combination of keywords including \"sciatic nerve endometriosis,\" \"sacral nerve root endometriosis,\" and associated Medical Subject Headings. Relevant publications and references were also checked for further articles.
Two independent researchers performed the study selection. We included all original research articles, case reports, and case series in English that reported on the isolated sciatic nerve and sacral nerve root endometriosis.
The initial search identified 92 articles, and 40 articles, mostly case reports and case series, were included. The review included 362 patients: with 256 and 106 patients in the sacral and the sciatic groups, respectively. In both groups, most patients had right-sided endometriosis. In the sciatic group, most of the patients presented with foot drop, leg motor weakness, and sciatic dermatome hypoesthesia. The frequencies of all these symptoms were significantly higher in the sciatic group (all p <.001). By contrast, in the sacral group, most of patients presented with pudendal neuralgia (p <.001). Intraoperative, early, late, and 1-year postoperative complications did not differ significantly between the 2 groups.
This study indicated that isolated sciatic and sacral nerve root endometrioses were more common on the right side. Laparoscopic surgery was more commonly performed over traditional open or transgluteal surgery techniques. Sacral nerve root endometriosis is often accompanied by deep infiltrating endometriosis. Magnetic resonance imaging and myelography may be useful diagnostic tools in the preoperative workup. There was usually no significant improvement after surgery in cases of isolated sciatic nerve endometriosis presenting with foot drop.

Endometriosis, a common chronic inflammatory disease in female of reproductive age, is closely related to patient symptoms and fertility. Because of its high contrast resolution and objectivity, MRI can contribute to the early and accurate diagnosis of ovarian endometriotic cysts and deeply infiltrating endometriosis without the need for any invasive procedure or radiation exposure. The ovaries, which are the most frequent site of endometriosis, can be afflicted by multiple related conditions and diseases. For the diagnosis of deeply infiltrating endometriosis and secondary adhesions among pelvic organs, fibrosis around the ectopic endometrial gland is usually found as a T2 hypointense lesion. This review summarizes the MRI findings obtained for ovarian endometriotic cysts and their physiologically and pathologically related conditions. This article also includes the key imaging findings of deeply infiltrating endometriosis.

To assess whether the combined vaginal-laparoscopic route may reduce the risk of postoperative bladder atony, when compared to an exclusively laparoscopic approach, in patients presenting with deeply infiltrating rectovaginal endometriosis with extensive vaginal infiltration.
Retrospective comparative cohort study using data prospectively recorded in the CIRENDO database.
Academic Tertiary Care Centre.
One hundred and thirty-two consecutive patients who underwent surgery of rectovaginal endometriosis with vaginal infiltration measuring greater than 3cm diameter.
Combined vaginal-laparoscopic versus laparoscopic approach.
Sixty-two patients underwent excision of endometriosis via a combined vaginal-laparoscopic approach (study group, or cases), while 71 patients underwent surgery via an exclusively laparoscopic route (controls). Rates of preoperative cyclical voiding difficulty and sensation of incomplete bladder emptying were comparable between the two groups. Preoperative urodynamic assessment was carried out in 18% of cases and 38% of controls, with abnormal results in 27.3% and 11.1% of cases and controls respectively. Early postoperative voiding difficulty (post-void residual>100mL) occurred in 14.7% and 24.3% of cases and controls respectively. There was a significant reduction in risk of intermittent self-catheterisation of 13% at time of discharge in the study cases. Three months postoperatively, one case and 6 controls had persistent voiding dysfunction requiring prolonged self-catheterisation.
The combined vaginal-laparoscopic approach for large rectovaginal endometriotic nodules could reduce the risk of postoperative bladder dysfunction, when compared to an exclusively laparoscopic approach, most likely due to a reduced risk of damage to the pelvic splanchnic nerves at the paravaginal level.

To demonstrate laparoscopic shaving of deeply infiltrative endometriosis affecting the rectosigmoid colon, with particular emphasis on the anatomic and technical aspects of the procedure.
Stepwise demonstration of the technique with narrated video footage.
Intestinal involvement in deep endometriosis is estimated to occur in 8% to 12% of patients, with 90% of occurrences being located in the colorectal segment. Deep endometriosis of the rectosigmoid is defined as endometriosis involving the muscular layer of the bowel wall, usually >5 mm deep, thus excluding superficial lesions that only affect the serosal layer. In cases in which medical therapy is unsatisfactory, rectosigmoid deep endometriosis can be surgically managed by 3 recognized surgical techniques: (1) rectal shaving, (2) disc excision, and (3) segmental resection. There are helpful recommendations for different approaches on the basis of the characteristics of the lesion, including the size, length, depth of invasion, involved rectal circumference, and number of lesions, among other factors [1]. Rectal shaving is well suited for smaller lesions, typically <3 cm, and involves \"shaving\" the lesion in the affected muscular layer of the bowel wall off the mucosa, ideally without entering the bowel lumen. It is associated with lower rates of perioperative complications and lower probability of long-term postoperative bladder and bowel dysfunctions [2].
This video demonstrates and highlights the anatomic and technical aspects of the following important steps of the rectal shaving procedure: (1) suspension of ovaries; (2) mobilization of the diseased segment of the rectum; (3) shaving of the lesions, with pertinent comments at different stages of nodule excision; (4) checking for the integrity of the bowel wall; and (5) suture of the muscularis defect after excision of the lesions from the muscularis layer of the bowel.
Compared with other alternatives, shaving for bowel endometriosis is a more conservative procedure with lower rates of perioperative complications, and it is less likely to result in long-term bladder and bowel dysfunctions. Therefore, shaving is preferable and recommended for appropriate lesions.

OBJECTIVE: Comparison of 3D-rectosonography (3D-RSG), rectal endoscopic sonography (RES), and MRI performances in the diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis using surgery as the Gold Standard.
METHODS: Monocentric retrospective longitudinal study on diagnostic procedures.
UNASSIGNED: Canadian Task Force II-2.
METHODS: University Hospital of Lyon Croix-Rousse.
METHODS: A total of 37 patients treated surgically for pelvic endometriosis.
METHODS: Expert 3D-RSG (3D Transvaginal sonography with water contrast in the rectum), MRI and RES performed by expert examiners. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value, positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated. Depth, size, and volume of intestinal lesions were also compared to the type of surgery performed (shaving versus segmental resection).
RESULTS: Rectosigmoid endometriosis lesion was confirmed by surgery in 31 patients on 37 (84%). Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value, positive and negative likelihood ratios for 3D-RSG were 94%, 100%, 95%, 100%, 75%, +∞ and 0.06 respectively; for RES 81%, 100%, 84%, 100%, 50%, +∞ and 0.19 respectively; while for MRI 90%, 100%, 92%, 100%, 67%, +∞ and 010 respectively. There was no significant difference between the 3 procedures (p > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: 3D-RSG, RES and MRI seem to be 3 effective procedures in the diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis. Their performances seem equivalent.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze preoperative and postoperative sexual function following surgery for deeply infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) with and without bowel involvement.
METHODS: Patients with DIE who underwent surgery between 2001 and 2011 with segmental bowel resection (WB) or without segmental bowel resection (WOB) were surveyed using the German version of the Massachusetts General Hospital Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (KFSP). Responses were given on a six-point scale for the items sexual interest, sexual arousal, orgasm, lubrication, and general sexual satisfaction. As there are no cut-off values for the existence of sexual function disorders, a control group with no history of endometriosis was evaluated. Differences between the preoperative and postoperative results, as well as between WB, WOB, and a control group, were compared using the Wilcoxon test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Fisher\'s exact test.
RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients without bowel resection (mean age 34.3 years; mean follow-up 63.2 months), 87 patients with bowel resection (mean age 37.7 years; mean follow-up 69.6 months), and 100 control patients aged 21-58 years (mean age 35.0 years) were evaluated. Preoperatively, both treatment groups had significantly poorer scores in all categories in comparison with the control group. The WOB group improved significantly in all categories postoperatively, with no further significant differences from the control group. No significant postoperative improvement was observed in the WB group, and the group had significantly poorer scores in comparison with the control group. The number of previous operations is associated with significantly poorer postoperative KFSP results. Sterility and age > 40 years are associated with significantly less improvement in the KFSP, although with lower initial values.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with DIE with or without bowel involvement have significantly impaired sexual function preoperatively. Complete resection of endometriosis in the WOB group was able to improve sexual function, as the women had sexual scores similar to those in the healthy control group postoperatively. Possible explanations for the lack of postoperative improvement of sexual function after segmental bowel resection include the type of surgery carried out, or injury to the affected nerves resulting from the endometriosis.

To examine peri-operative complications in patients undergoing laparoscopic excision of deeply infiltrating endometriosis (DIE).
This was a prospective study of a case series of women having laparoscopic excision of deeply infiltrating endometriosis from September 2013 through August 2016 in a tertiary referral center for endometriosis and minimally invasive gynaecological surgery in Iran. Data collected included demographics, baseline characteristics, intraoperative and postoperative data up to 1 month following surgery.
We analysed data from 244 consecutive patients, who underwent radical laparoscopic excision of all visible DIE. Major postoperative complications occurred in 3 (1.2%) and minor complications in 27 (11.1%) of patients. 80.3% of our patient group had Stage IV endometriosis. Segmental bowel resection was performed in 34 (13.9%), disc resection in 7 (2.9%), rectal shave in 53 (21.7%). Joint operating between a gynaecologist and colorectal and/or urological colleague was required in 29.6% of cases. The mean operating time was 223.8 min (± 80.7 standard deviation, range 60-440 min) and mean hospital stay was 2.9 days (± 1.5 standard deviation, range 1-11). The conversion to laparotomy rate was 1.6%.
A combination of different laparoscopic surgical techniques to completely excise all visible DIE, within the context of a tertiary referral center offering multi-disciplinary approach, produces safe outcomes with low complication rates.