Contribution of sacral neuromodulation to manage persistent voiding dysfunction after surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis with colorectal involvement: preliminary results.

OBJECTIVE: Around 5% of women experience persistent voiding dysfunction after surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) with colorectal involvement. The gold standard to manage persistent voiding dysfunction is intermittent self-catherization, but this treatment may reduce quality of life of the patients due to care constraints. The objective of our study was to assess the contribution of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) in the management of persistent voiding dysfunction secondary to surgery for DIE with colorectal resection. STUDY DESIGN: Five patients referred for persistent voiding dysfunction after surgery for DIE with colorectal resection were included and fitted with a temporary SNM system to test for feasibility. This consisted of placing an electrode unilaterally next to the S3 sacral nerve root and connecting it to an external pacemaker. The patients wore the electrode and the external neurostimulator for 21 days and kept a voiding diary. The SNM test was considered positive when a 50% decrease in self-catheterization was achieved after removal of the electrode. The system was implanted permanently in patients with a positive SNM test. Urodynamic tests were performed before and after the SNM test. RESULTS: Two of the five patients had a positive SNM test and were implanted permanently. At 40 months the first patient had completely stopped self-catheterization and the second patient was performing self-catheterization twice a day with a post voiding residue volume of less than 100ml at 52 months. CONCLUSION: SNM could be a curative technique in some patients with persistent voiding dysfunction after surgery for DIE. Further studies are required to better select patients who might benefit from SNM testing and subsequent device implantation.

Impact of osteopathic manipulative therapy on quality of life of patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis with colorectal involvement: results of a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: A prospective pilot study to evaluate the potential role of osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT) on quality of life (QOL) of patients with Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis (DIE) and colorectal involvement. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty patients with DIE and colorectal infiltration completed the SF-36 QOL questionnaire before and after undergoing OMT. RESULTS: The median age (range) of the patients was 30.4 years (22-39). Thirty-five percent of the patients had undergone previous surgery for endometriosis and 70% were on medical treatment. Fifteen of the 20 patients (75%) completed the protocol. There was no difference in the epidemiological characteristics or in the pre-OMT Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) of the SF-36 questionnaire between patients who completed the protocol or not. After a mean period of 24 days (15-53), a significant improvement in PCS (p=0.03) and MCS (p=0.0009) compared to pre-OMT values was observed giving a success rate of 80% and 60% in intention-to-treat, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results support that OMT can improve QOL of patients with DIE and colorectal involvement. Moreover, this pilot study can serve to determine power calculations for future randomized trials.