Comparison of clinical and ultrasound examinations in assessing the parametria in patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis: a multicentre prospective study.

RESEARCH QUESTION: How do clinical rectovaginal examination and transvaginal ultrasound examination perform in the diagnosis of parametrial infiltration in patients with endometriosis? DESIGN: This was a multicentre prospective observational study. Patients with suspected deep endometriosis at clinical examination and/or at ultrasound evaluation and scheduled for surgery were included. Following multicentre multidisciplinary meetings, consensus was obtained on terms and methodology to define the parametrium at pelvic anatomy, ultrasound and surgery. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated for clinical and ultrasound examinations with respect to surgery. RESULTS: In total, 195 women were selected for the present study and 164 were included in the analysis. Ultrasound examination had good to high specificity (>80%) for all parameters, except the left lateral parametrium (78.8%). The sensitivity of ultrasound examination was good to high for fixity of the right and left ovaries, uterosacral ligaments, retrocervix and rectovaginal space; and low for the anterior and lateral parametria, vagina, bladder and bowel. Clinical examination had good to high specificity for fixity of the left ovary, anterior parametrium, right uterosacral ligament, retrocervix and vagina; and low specificity for fixity of the right ovary, lateral parametrium, left uterosacral ligament and rectovaginal space. The sensitivity of clinical examination was good for the uterosacral ligaments and rectovaginal space, and low for the remaining parameters. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound examination provided good specificity for all the parameters, but sensitivity was low for the anterior and lateral parametria. Clinical examination provided good specificity for the anterior and posterior parametria, but sensitivity was low for the anterior and lateral parametria. Further prospective studies are needed to validate this methodology and confirm the results.

International expert consensus on the surgical anatomic classification of radical hysterectomies.

BACKGROUND: The anatomic descriptions and extents of radical hysterectomy often vary across the literature and operative reports worldwide. The same nomenclature is often used to describe varying procedures, and different nomenclature is often used to describe the same procedure despite the availability of guideline and classification systems. This makes it difficult to interpret retrospective surgical reports, analyze surgical databases, understand technique descriptions, and interpret the findings of surgical studies. OBJECTIVE: In collaboration with international experts in gynecologic oncology, the purpose of this study was to establish a consensus in defining and interpreting the 2017 updated Querleu-Morrow classification of radical hysterectomies. STUDY DESIGN: The anatomic templates of type A, B, and C radical hysterectomy were documented through a set of 13 images taken at the time of cadaver dissection. An online survey related to radical hysterectomy nomenclature and definitions or descriptions of the associated procedures was circulated among international experts in radical hysterectomy. A 3-step modified Delphi method was used to establish consensus. Image legends were amended according to the experts' responses and then redistributed as part of a second round of the survey. Consensus was defined by a yes response to a question concerning a specific image. Anyone who responded no to a question was welcome to comment and provide justification. A final set of images and legends were compiled to anatomically illustrate and define or describe a lateral, ventral, and dorsal excision of the tissues surrounding the cervix. RESULTS: In total, there were 13 questions to review, and 29 experts completed the whole process. Final consensus exceeded 90% for all questions except 1 (86%). Questions with relatively lower consensus rates concerned the definitions of types A and B2 radical hysterectomy, which were the main innovations of the 2017 updated version of the 2008 Querleu-Morrow classification. Questions with the highest consensus rates concerned the definitions of types B1 and C, which are the most frequently performed radical hysterectomies. CONCLUSION: The 2017 version of the Querleu-Morrow classification proved to be a robust tool for defining and describing the extent of radical hysterectomies with a high level of consensus among international experts in gynecologic oncology. Knowledge and implementation of the exact definitions of hysterectomy radicality are imperative in clinical practice and clinical research.

Feasibility of Intraoperative Proctosigmoidoscopy After Discoid Bowel Resection for Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis: A Pilot Multicenter Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Although surgery is the gold standard treatment for pain refractory to medical management or partial occlusion owing to rectosigmoid endometriosis, surgical resection can be associated with major perioperative complications. From general surgery experience, intraoperative proctosigmoidoscopy has shown encouraging results as a feasible, safe, and effective technique in reducing the risk of complications related to intestinal anastomosis after segmental resection. Unfortunately, there are no studies evaluating its role after discoid resection for rectosigmoid endometriosis. DESIGN: A pilot, multicentric, observational, prospective, cohort study. SETTING: Two academic hospitals, from March 1 to December 31, 2022. PATIENTS: We enrolled all consecutive fertile-age patients affected by symptomatic endometriosis scheduled for laparoscopic discoid bowel resection. Inclusion criteria were (1) age between 18 and 50 years, (2) diagnosis of rectosigmoid endometriosis performed by transvaginal ultrasound and/or magnetic resonance imaging, and (3) women scheduled for laparoscopic discoid bowel resection of endometriosis at low risk of segmental resection. INTERVENTIONS: During data analysis, enrolled patients were divided into 2 study groups for comparisons based on whether or not the intraoperative proctosigmoidoscopy was performed upon surgeons' discretion after discoid resection for treating endometriosis, in addition to standard integrity tests. Primary outcome was the rate of intraoperative proctosigmoidoscopy success. Secondary study outcomes were the differences between the intraoperative proctosigmoidoscopy group and the nonintraoperative proctosigmoidoscopy group in (1) mean of total operative time and (2) rate of perioperative complications. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 28 patients were enrolled and equally distributed in the 2 groups. The rate of intraoperative proctosigmoidoscopy success was 86%. No significant difference was reported between the 2 groups in terms of total operative time (p = .1) and intraoperative and postoperative complications (p = .5 and p = 1, respectively), with no surgical complication related to intraoperative proctosigmoidoscopy. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative proctosigmoidoscopy seems as a feasible and non-time-consuming intraoperative procedure in women undergone discoid resection for rectosigmoid endometriosis. Larger studies with longer follow-up period are necessary to confirm our findings and assess clinical benefits over standard procedure.

Totally intracorporeal colorectal anastomosis (TICA) versus classical mini-laparotomy for specimen extraction, after segmental bowel resection for deep endometriosis: a single-center experience.

PURPOSE: The surgical approach to bowel endometriosis is still unclear. The aim of the study is to compare TICA to conventional specimen extractions and extra-abdominal insertion of the anvil in terms of both complications and functional outcomes. METHODS: This is a single-center, observational, retrospective study conducted enrolling symptomatic women underwent laparoscopic excision of deep endometriosis with segmental bowel resection between September 2019 and June 2022. Women who underwent TICA were compared to classical technique (CT) in terms of intra- and postoperative complications, moreover, functional outcomes relating to the pelvic organs were assessed using validated questionnaires [Knowles-Eccersley-Scott-Symptom (KESS) questionnaire and Gastro-Intestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI)] for bowel function. Pain symptoms were assessed using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores. RESULTS: The sample included 64 women. TICA was performed on 31.2% (n = 20) of the women, whereas CT was used on 68.8% (n = 44). None of the patients experienced rectovaginal, vesicovaginal, ureteral or vesical fistula, or ureteral stenosis and uroperitoneum, and in no cases was it necessary to reoperate. Regarding the two surgical approaches, no significant difference was observed in terms of complications. As concerns pain symptoms at 6-month follow-up evaluations on stratified data, except for dysuria, all VAS scales reported showed significant reductions between median values, for both surgery interventions. As well, significant improvements were further observed in KESS scores and overall GIQLI. Only the GIQLI evaluation was significantly smaller in the TICA group compared to CT after the 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We did not find any significant differences in terms of intra- or post-operative complications compared TICA and CT, but only a slight improvement in the Gastro-Intestinal Quality of Life Index in patients who underwent the CT compared to the TICA technique.

Clash of the Titans: the first multi-center retrospective comparative study between da Vinci and Hugo™ RAS surgical systems for the treatment of deep endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: The proliferation of several robotic platforms presents an opportunity to pinpoint the most suitable system for specific procedures and patient profiles. This study aims to explore differences in complications and functional outcomes among patients undergoing deep endometriosis excision with the da Vinci surgical system compared to the Hugo™ RAS system. METHOD: This is a retrospective, multicenter cohort study. Patients were categorized based on the surgical system used: the Da Vinci system and the Hugo™ RAS system. Perioperative complications, functional outcomes (via validated questionnaire: BFLUTS, KESS, GIQLI), and pain symptoms both before and after surgery were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of six postoperative complications were reported: four in the Da Vinci system group (20%) and two in the Hugo™ RAS system group (12.5%). No difference in the mean operative time (p = 0.647), median estimated blood loss (p = 0.179), and hospital stay (p < 0.0001) was found between the two groups. A significant difference was reported in questionnaire score changes and dyspareunia severity in the da Vinci system arm. CONCLUSIONS: Both robotic systems offer comparable performances in terms of intraoperative complications, although there was a higher incidence of postoperative complications in patients who underwent surgery with the Da Vinci system. Moreover, there was an improvement in dyspareunia, urinary, and gastrointestinal function in the same group.

Radical Vaginal Hysterectomy, Type B: An Educational Video, Cadaver Model.

The radical vaginal hysterectomy popularized by Schauta1 has been virtually abandoned due to painful perineal incision, high rate of urinary dysfunction, and inability to perform lymph node assessment. However, this approach is still used and taught in a few centers outside its Austrian birthplace. In addition, a combined vaginal and laparoscopic approach, overcoming the flaws of the pure vaginal technique, was developed in the 1990s by French and German surgeons.2 After the publication of the Laparoscopic Approach to Cervical Cancer trial,3 the radical vaginal approach has found a very timely application with the closure of the vaginal cuff, aiming at avoiding cancer cell spillage.4 In addition, it is the basis to perform radical vaginal trachelectomy, or Dargent's operation, the best documented approach for the fertility-sparing management of stage IB1 cervical cancers. Today, the main obstacle to the rebirth of radical vaginal surgical surgery is the lack of teaching centers and the need of a specific learning curve that requires performing 20-50 surgeries.5,6 This educational video demonstrates that training is possible using a fresh cadaver model. A type B approach according to the Querleu-Morrow7 classification of radical vaginal hysterectomy, adapted according to surgeon's choice to stage IB1 or IB2 cervical cancer, is shown. Key specific steps such as the creation of a vaginal cuff and the identification of the ureter within the bladder pillar are highlighted. Fresh cadaver model is a method that spares the patients the risks of early learning curve while allowing the surgeon to acquire skills and keep offering the patient the benefit of the most specifically gynecological approach in cervical cancer surgery.

Consensus on the Gemelli terminology of surgical anatomy for radical hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To report on a consensus survey of experts on a recently proposed simplified nomenclature of surgical anatomy of the female pelvis for radical hysterectomy. The aim was to standardize surgical reports in clinical practice and understanding of the techniques in future surgical literature. METHODS: The anatomical definitions were included in 12 original images taken at the time of cadaver dissections. Denomination of the corresponding anatomical structures was based on the nomenclature recently proposed by the same team. A three step modified Delphi method was used to establish consensus. After a first round of online survey, the legends of the images were amended to respond to the comments of the experts. Second and third rounds were performed. Consensus was defined as a yes vote to each question regarding the images provided, and 75% was defined as the cut-off for agreement. Comments justifying the no votes were taken into account to amend the set of images and legends. RESULTS: A group of 32 international experts from all continents was convened. Consensus exceeded 90% for all five images documenting the surgical spaces. Consensus ranged between 81.3% and 96.9% for the six images documenting the ligamentous structures surrounding the cervix. Finally, consensus was lowest (75%) for the most recently defined denomination of the broad ligament (lymphovascular parauterine tissue or upper lymphatic pathway). CONCLUSION: Simplified anatomic nomenclature is a robust tool to describe the surgical spaces of the female pelvis. The simplified definition of ligamentous structures reached a high level of consensus, even if the terms paracervix (instead of lateral parametrium), uterosacral ligament (replaced by rectovaginal ligament), vesicovaginal ligament, and lymphovascular parauterine tissue remain matters of debate.

Surgical Neuropelviology: Combined Sacral Plexus Neurolysis and Laparoscopic Laterally Extended Endopelvic Resection in Deep Lateral Pelvic Endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical demonstration of combined sacral plexus neurolysis and laparoscopic laterally extended endopelvic resection for deep lateral infiltrating endometriosis. DESIGN: Video showing principles of neurolysis and laparoscopic laterally extended endopelvic resection applied to endometriotic surgery. SETTING: University tertiary referral center. Deep infiltrating endometriosis is an underestimated disease with real medical and clinical issues, recently classified as central pelvic endometriosis and lateral pelvic endometriosis further divided into superficial and deep according to the structures' involvement [1]. The surgical removal of endometriotic foci remains the standard treatment. A wide knowledge of neuroanatomy and high skills in minimally invasive surgery are required to manage this challenging surgical scenario [2]. INTERVENTIONS: New surgical approach for deep lateral infiltrating endometriosis based on the principles of lateral extended endopelvic resection and neuropelviologic surgery [3,4]. The patient was a 35-year-old woman, para 1, with neuropathic pain radiating to the left leg and a cyclic menstrual disorder. A laparoscopically assisted neuronavigation and subsequent neurolysis allowed the identification of the lateral nodule without damage to the autonomic pelvic innervation [1]. Then, a complete resection of the internal vascular compartment was required to obtain a radical endometriotic eradication. Shaving and bladder resection were also performed to complete removal of the endometriotic foci. CONCLUSION: The association of neuroanatomic knowledge and surgical oncologic principles applied to minimally invasive surgery should be considered to ensure an adequate surgical radicality and clinical benefit in patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in the Treatment of Endometrial Cancer: Why We Fail? Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study on the Factors Associated with Failure of Node Mapping with Indocyanine Green.

BACKGROUND: The sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping for endometrial cancer staging is gaining wide diffusion, but there is no definitive evidence on the factors associated with the failure of mapping. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the factors associated with the possible failure of bilateral SLN mapping with indocyanine green (ICG). METHODS: A prospective observational study without control on 110 patients with endometrial cancer apparently confined to the uterus, underwent laparoscopic surgical staging with SLN mapping with ICG. RESULTS: Possible risk factors associated with bilateral mapping failure were analyzed, and a multivariate analysis was performed. The bilateral detection rate for SLNs mapping was 72.7%, whereas at least one SLN was detected in 79.1% of patients. No SLNs were identified in 6.3%. None of the patients or features related to tumor were associated with a risk of failure of the method. The only factor analyzed that was significantly associated with the success of bilateral mapping was the surgeon (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Neither obesity nor the presence of lymph node metastases was associated with mapping failure. However, there remains a need for further studies to understand all the mechanisms linked to the unsuccessful method results and to reduce the use of systematic lymphadenectomy in the case of mapping failure.

Recurrence in Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Deep infiltrative endometriosis (DIE) is an enigmatic disease that typically impacts the rectovaginal septum, uterosacral ligaments, pararectal space, and vesicouterine fold but can involve the rectum, sigma, ileum, ureters, diaphragm, and other less common sites. Surgery is the treatment of choice because medical management alone commonly fails in controlling the symptoms although recurrence is very high after surgical treatment. The goal of the current study was to review recurrence rates and identify risk factors related to recurrence after surgery for DIE. The review involved searching the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Google Scholar for relevant articles in accordance with the study's inclusion criteria; 45 studies were considered suitable. The results showed a wide heterogeneity regarding DIE recurrence because of inconsistent recurrence definitions and follow-up length. Younger age and high body mass index were found to be risk factors for DIE recurrence. Lack of complete surgical excision was another independent risk factor for recurrence of disease. In conclusion, there is a need for prospective studies and a more homogeneous standard for surgical treatment of DIE.

A New Hysteroscopic Risk Scoring System for Diagnosing Endometrial Hyperplasia and Adenocarcinoma.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To develop a new hysteroscopic morphologic scoring system that helps physicians, especially those who have less experience, to make a differential diagnosis among normal endometrium (NE), endometrial hyperplasia, and endometrial carcinoma. DESIGN: A retrospective study (Canadian Task Force Classification II). SETTING: An office hysteroscopy service. PATIENTS: A total of 435 endometrial biopsies were included in the study: 201 NE, 160 endometrial hyperplasia without atypia (EH), 30 atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH), and 44 endometrial cancer (EC). INTERVENTIONS: The authors retrospectively evaluated all videos of diagnostic hysteroscopies performed before endometrial biopsies to note endometrial morphologic parameters suggestive of pathology. Principal significant variables were selected by means of the chi-square test (p < .05) and integrated into an ordinal multivariate analysis. Through the estimate of the beta coefficient, a score was obtained to be appointed to each of the selected variables, and characteristic intervals of each of the endometrial lesions were created. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The scoring system showed a sensitivity and specificity of 71.1% and 80%, 48.7% and 82.5%, 63.3% and 90.4%, and 95.4% and 98.2% regarding NE, EH, AEH, and EC, respectively. The positive predictive values and negative predictive values, respectively, were 76.8% and 80% for NE, 62% and 73.5% for EH, 32.7% and 97% for AEH, and 85.7% and 99.5% for EC. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed scoring system showed good diagnostic performance, especially in relation to endometrial cancer, and may represent a useful diagnostic tool, mainly for operators with less experience.

Initial experience of robotically assisted endometriosis surgery with a novel robotic system: first case series in a tertiary care center.

Endometriosis is a benign disease requiring surgery if medical treatment can not achieve symptom control. Laparoscopy remains the gold standard and robotic assistance can be beneficial in complex cases. Robot-assisted radical endometriosis excision using the Hugo™ RAS system is a novel approach. The aim of this study is to describe its setting and outcomes in a series of patients in a robotic surgery center. Endometriosis patients who consecutively underwent robot-assisted surgery with the Hugo™ RAS system (Medtronic, USA) were retrospectively enrolled. Disease-specific symptoms before and after surgery, endometriosis stage, as well as perioperative and intraoperative variables including system setup were collected. Early post-operative complications (< 30 days) and follow-up (up to 3 months) were reported. All procedures were completed robotically. Port placement followed the "bridge" configuration with a "compact" docking. The median operative time was 186.5 min (IQR 174-220), the median estimated blood loss 50 ml (IQR 0-100). An intraoperative complication occurred in one patient (6.6%), a bladder laceration with postoperative antibiotic treatment. The median lenght of hospital stay (LOS) was 3 days (IQR 3-4). Surgery achieved a statistically significant decrease in symptoms: mean dysmenorrhea (9.50 ± 0.83 versus 1.7 ± 2.26; p = 0.001), dyschezia (4.27 ± 3.61 versus 2.40 ± 2.92; p = 0.026), dysuria (2.73 ± 3.39 versus 1.87 ± 2.41; p = 0.358), dyspareunia (6.53 ± 3.15 versus 2.93 ± 2.89; p = 0.002) and chronic pelvic pain (8.8 ± 1.20 versus 3.20 ± 2.39; p = 0.001). The integration of this platform in the described configuration was safe with regular perioperative outcomes and significant improvement in symptoms. Prospective comparative studies with a larger cohort and longer follow-up are needed to assess potential advantages over the current gold standard.

Anatomical-based classification of dorsolateral parametrectomy for deep endometriosis. Correlation with surgical complications and functional outcomes: A single- center prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate complication rate and functional outcomes of nerve-sparing parametrectomy for deep endometriosis in relation to the extension of the surgical procedure, based on recognizable anatomical landmarks. METHODS: This was a prospective single-center study including all patients undergoing parametrectomy for deep endometriosis from September 2020 to June 2023 at our tertiary center. Dorsolateral parametrectomies were divided into parametrectomies medial to the presacral fascia and cranial to the medial rectal artery (superficial parametrectomy), and parametrectomies in which one of the two landmarks was overcome during the surgical procedure, leading to the excision of tissue lateral to the presacral fascia (deep parametrectomy type 1, or DP1) or caudal to the medial rectal artery (DP2). Finally, we used the hypogastric fascia as landmark to define type 3 deep parametrectomy (DP3), when the procedure was deeply lateral to the fascia. RESULTS: Bladder voiding deficit occurred in 9.7% of cases, with higher rates in DP2 (20.8%) and DP3 (30%) groups. Regarding postoperative gastrointestinal function, our data showed a significant improvement over time in all groups, with the exception of DP2; instead an improvement in postoperative bladder function was only shown in DP3. Parametrectomy was not associated with a simultaneous improvement in sexual function expressed with the female sexual function index, in any of the four groups. CONCLUSION: Our classification constitutes a concrete approach for comparing, in a standardized way, the complications and functional outcomes of parametrectomy, which, even if carried out by expert surgeons, demonstrates a non-negligible rate of bladder voiding deficit.

Robotic assisted versus laparoscopic surgery for deep endometriosis: a meta-analysis of current evidence.

Endometriosis is a benign inflammatory onco-mimetic disease affecting 10-15% of women in the world. When it is refractory to medical treatments, surgery may be required. Usually, laparoscopy is the preferred approach, but robotic surgery has gained popularity in the last 15 years. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RAS) versus conventional laparoscopic surgery (LPS) in the treatment of endometriosis. This study adheres to PRISMA guidelines and is registered with PROSPERO. Studies reporting perioperative data comparing RAS and LPS surgery in patients with endometriosis querying PubMed, Google Scholar and ClinicalTrials.gov were included in the analysis. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool (QUADAS-2) was used for the quality assessment of the selected articles. Fourteen studies were identified, including 2709 patients with endometriosis stage I-IV for the meta-analysis. There were no significant differences between RAS and LPS in terms of intraoperative and postoperative complications, conversion rate and estimated blood loss. However, patients in the RAS group have a longer operative time (p < 0.0001) and longer hospital stay (p = 0.020) than those in the laparoscopic group. Robotic surgery is not inferior to laparoscopy in patients with endometriosis in terms of surgical outcomes; however, RAS requires longer operative times and longer hospital stay. The benefits of robotic surgery should be sought in the easiest potential integration of robotic platforms with new technologies. Prospective studies comparing laparoscopy to the new robotic systems are desirable for greater robustness of scientific evidence.

Vascular- and nerve-sparing bowel resection for deep endometriosis: A retrospective single-center study.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical management of bowel endometriosis is still controversial. Recently, many authors have pointed out the potential benefits of preserving the superior rectal artery, thus ensuring better perfusion of the anastomosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the complication rate and functional outcomes of a bowel resection technique for deep endometriosis (DE) involving a nerve- and vascular-sparing approach. METHODS: A single-center retrospective study was conducted by enrolling patients who underwent segmental resection of the rectus sigmoid for DE in our department between September 2019 and April 2022. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded for each woman, and functional outcomes relating to the pelvic organs were assessed using validated questionnaires (Knowles-Eccersley-Scott-Symptom [KESS] questionnaire and Gastro-Intestinal Quality of Life Index [GIQLI] for bowel function, Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms [BFLUTS] for urinary function, and Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI] for sexual function). These were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively after 6 months from surgery. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients were enrolled. No patients had Clavien-Dindo grade 3 or 4 complications, there were no rectovaginal fistulas or ureteral lesions, and in no cases was it necessary to reoperate. Temporary bladder voiding deficits were reported in 8.2% of patients, which were treated with self-catheterizations, always resolving within 45 days of surgery. Gastrointestinal function evaluated by KESS and GIQLI improved significantly after surgery, whereas sexual function appeared to worsen, although without reaching the level of statistically significant validity. CONCLUSION: Our vascular- and nerve-sparing segmental bowel resection technique for DE had a low intraoperative and postoperative complication rate and produced an improvement in gastrointestinal function after surgery.

Preoperative diagnosis of ureteral medial deviations secondary to deep endometriosis using transvaginal ultrasound examinations: Can we predict the need for ureterolysis during laparoscopic surgery?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate ureteral involvement using transvaginal sonography (TVS) regarding the distortion of the course of the ureters caused by deep endometriosis (DE), which can facilitate predicting the need for ureterolysis during surgery, even in the absence of ureteral stenosis or dilatation. METHODS: This is a single-center, observational, retrospective pilot study of 88 consecutive patients who later underwent surgery for DE that used ultrasound preoperative diagnosis of ureteral medial deviation of one or both ureters between January 2019 and January 2022. At TVS, the course of the ureter was considered medialized if, in longitudinal and transversal section, any distance was detectable between the ureter and the cervix at the point where the ureter crosses the uterine artery. The primary end point was to determine sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of "ureteral medial deviation" diagnosed using TVS, in order to predict the need for ureterolysis. RESULTS: Our series included 88 women with a median age of 39 (interquartile range 33-43) years. Ureteral medialization showed a relatively low false-positive rate (10.9%), with a specificity of 89.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 81.4%-96.7%) and a sensitivity of 86.6% (95% CI 80.3%-92.9%), along with a high positive predictive value of 93.3% (95% CI 88.4%-98.1%), and a lower negative predictive value of 79.1% (95% CI 69.8%-88.5%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study introduced a new ultrasound sign with a high degree of accuracy to predict ureterolysis and this may have positive implications in the management and surgical planning of patients with ureteral endometriosis.

Laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy and round ligament bladder hitching for ureteral stenosis in parametrial deep endometriosis: Our tips for a tension-free anastomosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and the efficacy of laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy with round ligament bladder hitching. METHODS: This is a monocentric retrospective study. Enrolled patients affected by deep endometriosis underwent laparoscopic nerve-sparing parametrectomy and monolateral ureteroneocystostomy with bladder suspension to the round ligament. Perioperative and postoperative outcomes were collected, as well as urinary and pain symptoms before and after surgery. RESULTS: Laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy with round ligament bladder hitching was performed in nine women. The most frequent postoperative complication was post-voiding urinary retention (22.2%). No ureteral fistula or stenosis of the anastomosis was reported. CONCLUSION: In selected cases of ureteral resection and reimplantation, performing a round ligament bladder hitching allowed us to overcome the ureteral gap. This is a safe and feasible procedure to ensure stability of the anastomosis and avoid the possible disadvantages of the "standard" psoas hitch procedure.

Are ureterolysis for deep endometriosis really all the same? An anatomical classification proposal for ureterolysis: A single-center experience.

OBJECTIVE: Ureteral endometriosis has an incidence of 0.1% to 1%. The type of surgery required is either conservative (ureterolysis) or radical treatment, depending on the degree of ureter infiltration. The incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications is heterogeneous. Thus, the aim of the current study was to propose a classification of ureterolysis based on the anatomical structure of the ureter and differing complication rates with procedures. METHODS: A total of 139 ureterolysis procedures were included in the study. Patients were divided into three groups according to the depth of ureterolysis required. Differences were recorded across the three types of ureterolysis in terms of intraoperative and postoperative complications. RESULTS: The incidence of ureteral fistula was reported in 0.7% of cases, with postoperative ureteral stenosis in 2% of type 2 ureterolysis. In the case of type 3 ureterolysis, after conservative procedures, 52.9% of patients required an ureteroneocystostomy to solve the ureteral stenosis. CONCLUSION: The risk of ureteral injury and ureteroneocystostomy after conservative procedures appears to be associated with type 3 ureterolysis, probably due to excessive devascularization, secondary to the incision of adventitia. Obviously, these data should be confirmed through a prospective study of a larger number, but our proposed classification can provide the basis for making data from future studies more comparable.