Excision of Deep Endometriosis of the Rectosigmoid: Individualizing Care to the Presenting Pathology

To highlight different surgical approaches for managing deep infiltrating endometriosis involving the rectosigmoid colon.

Demonstration of specific surgical techniques with educational narrated video footage.

Bowel endometriosis is reported in 3.8% to 37% of patients with endometriosis [1]. Most commonly, the rectosigmoid colon is involved. Pelvic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging may be useful in diagnosis and for surgical planning [2]. Treatment options include observation, medications, or surgery. There are various surgical techniques that can be used for excision of deep infiltrating endometriosis involving the rectosigmoid colon. Serosal shaving, discoid resection, and complete resection are the possible types of surgical interventions that are demonstrated in this surgical education video at an academic medical center. Serosal shaving is used for lesions with minimal involvement of the muscularis. It can be done sharply or with electrosurgery and it is imperative to assess bowel integrity after shaving. Discoid resection is used for lesions with muscularis involvement, <3 cm in size, and encompassing less than one-third to a half of the bowel circumference. Full-thickness discoid bowel resection can be done in various ways including manual resection with primary suture closure, regular stapler transabdominally, or EEA stapler (Medtronic EEA Circular Stapler, Minneapolis, MN) transrectally. Segmental resection is used for lesions >3 cm in size, involving >50% of the bowel circumference, or for multifocal lesions. Various suture and stapler methods exist for this technique.

Based on the imaging and intraoperative findings, a surgical technique was chosen and demonstrated. The types of surgical techniques demonstrated include laparoscopic serosal shaving, discoid resection with manual resection and primary suture closure, discoid resection with EEA stapler, and segmental resection.

Knowledge of different surgical approaches to excise endometriosis is essential to appropriately address a patient's unique pathology. The choice of which surgical technique to use should include consideration of the location of the lesion, depth and circumference of involvement, and the number of nodules present.