Laparoscopic management of ureteral endometriosis: our experience.
OBJECTIVE
Ureteral endometriosis is rare, accounting for less than 0.3% of all endometriotic lesions. The aim of our study is to evaluate the prevalence of extrinsic ureteral endometriosis in women undergoing laparoscopic surgery for severe endometriosis and to suggest that laparoscopic ureterolysis represents a mandatory measure in all cases to avoid ureteral injury.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was performed of all cases of patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for severe endometriosis at the departments of obstetrics and gynecology at CMCO-SIHCUS and Hautepierre Hospital, Strasbourg, from November 2004 through January 2006.


RESULTS
We recorded 54 patients with a mean age of 31 years and a mean body mass index of 21.9. Reported symptoms were dysmenorrhea (88%), severe dyspareunia (88%), severe pelvic pain (38.8%), and infertility (74%). Five women presented with dysuria, frequency, recurrent urinary tract infections, and pain in the renal angle, and 2 patients had hydronephrosis. We observed 3 patients (5.6%) with ureteral stenosis, 35 (64.8%) with adenomyotic tissue surrounding the ureter without stenosis, and 16 (29.6%) with adenomyotic tissue adjacent to the ureter. It was on the left side in 47.4% of cases, on the right side in 31.6% cases, and bilaterally in 21% of cases. In 9 patients, ureteral involvement was associated with bladder endometriosis (16.7%). In all patients, ureterolysis was performed. There was 1 case of ureteral injury during the procedure, 2 of transitory urinary retention, and 1 of uretero-vaginal fistula after surgery. During the first year of follow-up, the disease recurred in 4 patients, with no evidence of the disease in the urinary tract.


CONCLUSIONS
Conservative laparoscopic surgery to relieve ureteral obstruction and remove pathologic tissue is the management of choice. Resection of part of the ureter should be performed only in exceptional cases. Ureterolysis should be performed in all patients before endometriotic nodule resection to recognize and prevent any ureteral damage.
Frenna
Virginia
V
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre Medico-Chirurgical et Obstetrical-Les Syndicat inter-Hospitalier de la Communauté Urbaine de Strasbourg, Hautepierre Hospital, Strasbourg, France. virginifrenna@libero.com
Santos
Leonor
L
Ohana
Eric
E
Bailey
Charles
C
Wattiez
Arnaud
A
D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014513:Ureter / Q000601:surgery*; D014515:Ureteral Diseases / Q000601:surgery*