Robotic surgery and standard laparoscopy: a surgical hybrid technique for use in colorectal endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our work was to assess the feasibility and possible benefits of a novel hybrid surgical technique in rectosigmoidal resection in patients with bowel endometriosis.


METHODS
A total of seven symptomatic and infertile women with severe bowel endometriosis underwent segmental bowel resection using the da Vinci surgical system and conventional laparoscopy. Statistical analysis was performed by Friedman test for non-parametric multiple comparisons.


RESULTS
The surgical procedure has a determined short mean operative time (210min) and short postoperative hospitalization (five days). In 100% of patients, the resected area showed disease-free margins. Follow-up, carried out at three, six and 12months after operation, showed a regression of painful symptoms in all operated patients (100%). Two patients (28.6%) aged≥35years eventually had natural pregnancies.


CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first concerning the use of a hybrid technique for intestinal resection in severe endometriosis, and comparing our data with that in the literature, its methodological and clinical advantages are evident. Moreover, the complete removal of endometriotic implants seems to offer good results in terms of postoperative fertility, although the study data do not allow us to draw definitive conclusions on the management of fertility.
Department of Gynaecology General Mini-Invasive Surgery, Clinical Institute Humanitas, Rozzano, Milano, Italy.
Domenico
D
Vitobello
Nicola
N
Fattizzi
Giuseppe
G
Santoro
Riccardo
R
Rosati
Gianandrea
G
Baldazzi
Cinzia
C
Bulletti
Vittorio
V
Palmara
D000328:Adult; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012371:Robotics; D016896:Treatment Outcome