title: Laparoscopy versus microsurgery by laparotomy for excision of ovarian cysts in patients with moderate or severe endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of laparoscopy versus microsurgery by laparotomy in the treatment of ovarian endometriomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study with historical controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tertiary university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty-two women under 40 years of age with ovarian endometriotic cysts at least 3 cm in diameter (stage III and IV endometriosis, R-AFS classification). Interventions. A single surgeon (RM) treated 83 patients by laparoscopy for excision of ovarian endometriomas by the stripping technique and 49 by microsurgery at laparotomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data regarding recurrence of ovarian cysts, symptomatic improvement, and reproductive outcome were comparable for the two groups. Postoperative febrile morbidity and length of hospitalization were significantly less for the laparoscopy group than for the laparotomy group (p <0.0005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Operative laparoscopy for excision of ovarian endometrial cysts by the stripping technique is as effective as microsurgery by laparotomy. It is associated with less febrile morbidity and a shorter hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo F Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marana
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caruana
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muzii
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mancuso
mesh_terms: D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008866:Microsurgery; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome