title: Treatment of rectosigmoid endometriosis by laparoscopically assisted vaginal rectosigmoidectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the use of mechanical anastomoses in cases of laparoscopically assisted vaginal rectosigmoidectomy for the treatment of rectosigmoid endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pilot study evaluating eight patients with rectosigmoid endometriosis referred for surgical treatment. All patients were submitted to laparoscopically assisted vaginal segmental resection of the rectosigmoid with anastomoses performed using linear and circular staplers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average length of the surgical procedure was 177.5 min and average duration of hospitalization was 4.13 days. There were no intra-operative complications and integrity of the anastomoses was confirmed in all patients. One patient reported partial improvement of symptoms and 7 patients presented complete clinical remission 12 months following surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopically assisted vaginal segmental resection of the sigmoid infiltrated by endometriosis is a feasible surgical procedure. The technique combines transvaginal access with mechanical intestinal anastomoses performed using linear and circular staplers, and achieves good results with low morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of São Paulo, Medical School, General Hospital, Av Dr Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 255, 10 andar, CEP 05403-900, Cerqueira, Ceśar, São Paulo, Brazil. msabrao@attglobal.net
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Abrao
authors.forename: U E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Sagae
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Podgaec
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dias
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D012810:Sigmoid Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D017792:Surgical Stapling