Laparoscopic Double Discoid Resection With a Circular Stapler for Bowel Endometriosis

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Gynecologic Surgery
• Gastrointestinal Surgery

Background:

• Bowel endometriosis significantly impacts women's quality of life, often necessitating surgical intervention.
• Traditional surgical options like segmental bowel resection can involve significant morbidity.
• Laparoscopic techniques are increasingly favored for treating deep infiltrating endometriosis.

Observation:

• A case report details a 33-year-old woman with symptomatic bowel endometriosis involving the anterior rectal wall.
• The patient underwent laparoscopic double discoid resection with a circular stapler.
• Pathological examination confirmed endometriosis infiltrating the rectal submucosa.

Findings:

• The laparoscopic double discoid resection procedure was completed in 177 minutes with minimal blood loss (100 mL).
• The patient was discharged 19 hours post-procedure with an uneventful recovery.
• In a series of 315 patients, 16 (5.1%) underwent this technique, with a low complication rate and no fistulas observed.

Implications:

• Laparoscopic double discoid resection with a circular stapler presents a promising alternative to segmental bowel resection for selected cases of bowel endometriosis.
• This technique may offer reduced recovery times and lower complication rates compared to more extensive resections.
• Further research and larger studies are warranted to establish the long-term efficacy and safety of this approach.