Review of the various laparoscopic techniques used in the treatment of bowel endometriosis

Colorectal infiltration by endometriotic implants accounts about 90% of all intestinal location and is difficult to be assessed preoperatively by means of history taking and clinical examination. During the last decade, a number of studies are trying to assess various minimally invasive procedures in order to establish a therapeutic plan that is efficacious and produces acceptable clinical outcomes, preventing the morbidity that results from open surgery. The study aims to review the efficacy of these procedures as therapeutic options of endometriosis infiltrating the bowel. Thirty five observational studies were finally included in the present review involving 3490 women. Intraoperative complications were observed in 4.3% of women and postoperative complications in 7.8%. Quality of life was statistically significantly improved, wherever recorded. Postoperative pain reduction and fertility scores were also improved among cases that received either segmental resection or less radical operations. The various techniques described seem to be efficacious, with acceptable intraoperative and postoperative complication rates. Laparoscopic disc shaving or disc resection in cases of minimal bowel involvement seem to be sufficient alternatives to segmental bowel resection, resulting in high rates of fertilization.