Posterior Deep Infiltrating Endometriotic Nodules: Operative Considerations according to Lesion Size, Location, and Geometry, during One's Learning Curve

A systematic review to determine use of the Endometriosis Health Profiles to measure quality of life outcomes in women with endometriosis

BACKGROUND

The Endometriosis Health Profiles (EHPs), the EHP-30 and EHP-5, are patient-reported outcome measures that were developed to measure the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of women living with endometriosis. Prior to their development, a systematic review was undertaken which identified that the HRQoL of women living with endometriosis was poorly understood, with only three medical and one surgical study identified.

OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE

The 20-year anniversary of the EHP-30 provided a timely opportunity to assess how the tools have been used and explore what the findings tell us about the impact of endometriosis and its associated treatments upon women's QoL. Applying robust systematic review methodology, following PRISMA guidelines, we sought to answer: How many studies have used the EHP and for what purpose?; What are the demographic characteristics and international context of the studies?; What is the methodological nature and quality of the studies?; Which interventions have been assessed and what are the reported EHP outcomes?; and Can the EHP outcomes of these interventions be analysed using a meta-analysis and, if so, what do the results show?

SEARCH METHODS

The electronic databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Google Scholar were searched from the year the EHP was first published, in 2001 to 26 February 2020 using the search terms 'EHP30', 'EHP5', 'EHP-30', 'EHP-5', 'endometriosis health profile 30', and 'endometriosis health profile 5'. We updated the searches on 9 April 2021. All included studies were quality assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).

OUTCOMES

The review included 139 papers. In clinical intervention studies, the EHPs were deployed most frequently to measure the outcomes of medical (n = 35) and surgical (n = 21) treatment. The EHPs were also used in 13 other intervention studies, 29 non-interventional studies, 32 psychometric/cross cultural validation studies; six diagnostic studies, and in three other studies to measure outcomes in related conditions. They were mainly deployed in studies undertaken in Europe and North America. Overall, regardless of the nature of the intervention, most women reported improvements in HRQoL after treatment. Surgical interventions generally resulted in significant improvements for the longest amount of time. There was also evidence that when participants stopped taking medication their EHP scores worsened, perhaps reinforcing the temporary impact of medical treatment. Younger patients reported more negative impact upon their HRQoL. Further evidence using classical test theory to support the EHPs' robust psychometric properties, including acceptability, dimensionality, reliability, validity (including cross-cultural), and responsiveness, was demonstrated, particularly for the EHP-30. Strikingly, using anchor-based methods, EHP-30 responsiveness studies demonstrate the largest mean changes in the 'control and powerlessness' domain post-intervention, followed by 'pain'. MMAT outcomes indicated the quality of the papers was good, with the exception of five studies. A meta-analysis was not undertaken owing to the heterogeneity of the interventions and papers included in this review.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS

Women with endometriosis face a lifetime of surgical and/or medical interventions to keep the condition under control. Less invasive treatments that can lead to improved longer term physical and psycho-social outcomes are needed. The EHPs are reliable, valid, acceptable, and responsive tools, but more assessment of EHP outcomes using modern psychometric methods and in the context of women from ethnically diverse backgrounds and in routine clinical care would be beneficial. Given the brevity of the EHP-5, it may be the most appropriate version to use in routine clinical practice, whereas the longer EHP-30, which provides more granularity, is more appropriate for research.

Surgeons' workload assessment during indocyanine-assisted deep endometriosis surgery using the surgery task load index: The impact of the learning curve

Objective

Assess the surgeons' workload during deep endometriosis surgery after ureteral ICG

Design

Prospective, consecutive, comparative, single-center study

Population

41 patients enrolled to deep endometriosis surgery with ureteral ICG from January 2019 to July 2021 at La Paz University Hospital

Methods

Patients were divided into 2 groups: patients operated during the learning curve of ureteral ICG instillation and patients operated after the technique was implemented and routinely performed. After surgery, the SURG-TLX form was completed by the surgeons. We evaluated whether a workload reduction occurred.

Main outcomes measures

Surgeon's workload was measured using the SURG-TLX form, obtaining the total workload and 6 different dimensions (distractions, temporal demands, task complexity, mental demands, situational stress and physical demands)

Results

A significant positive correlation was found between surgical complexity and situational stress (p = 0.04). Mental demands (p = 0.021), physical demands (p = 0.03), and total workload (p = 0.025) were significantly lower when the technique was routinely performed. The mental demand, physical demands, and total workload perceived by the surgeons at the beginning of the implementation was higher (68 [39–72], 27 [11–46.5], 229 [163–240], respectively) than in the latter ones (40 [9–63], 11.5 [0–32.8], 152 [133.3–213.8], respectively). Distractions appeared to be higher in the latter surgeries (8.5 [0–27.8]) than in the first surgeries (0 [0–7]; p = 0.057).

Conclusions

Ureter ICG instillation prior to DE surgery significantly reduces the mental and physical demands and total workload of the surgeons in DE surgeries after overcoming the learning curve. Distractions appear to increase as surgical stress decreases.

Rectal endometriosis presenting as toxic megacolon

Background

The bowel is the most common site of extragenital endometriosis, with involvement of the locoregional sigmoid colon and anterior rectum seen most often. The clinical presentation varies depending on how soon patients seek medical care, thus requiring changes in management strategies. Endometriosis can cause a life-threatening surgical emergency with progressive obliteration of the bowel lumen leading to obstruction and late complications including toxic megacolon and transmural necrosis.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 41-year-old woman presenting with an acute abdomen and complete large bowel obstruction complicated by sepsis and toxic megacolon. The patient underwent emergency total colectomy with ileostomy. Medical history was significant for chronic, vague, and episodic lower abdominal pain self-medicated with herbal tea and laxatives. Pathologic examination demonstrated colonic endometriosis within the bowel wall as the cause of obstruction, ischemia, and transmural necrosis.

Conclusions

Although a rare clinical entity, this case highlights two important points. First, it demonstrates the value of performing proper and complete clinical work up to rule out or in all possible causes of colonic obstruction, including intestinal endometriosis. Second, it suggests a potential benefit of a formalized multidisciplinary approach, including surgery, in the management of medically unresponsive endometriosis. In conclusion, this case shows that endometriosis can cause life-threatening colonic obstruction in women of childbearing age. Prompt early intervention is warranted, particularly when obstruction is only partial and ischemia has not supervened, to conceivably prevent the development of a toxic megacolon requiring colectomy and avoid late complications.

Evidence-based case report: How to deal with unpredicted endometriosis nodule closed to ureter and rectum during laparoscopy

INTRODUCTION

Endometriosis is characterized by the growth of endometrial-like tissue within and outside the pelvic cavity. Peritoneum nodules invaded more than 5 mm representing the commonest form of deep infiltrating endometriosis nodules might challenge inexperienced operator due to its location near ureter and the rectum. The aim is to provide important steps on how to deal with unexpected peritoneal endometrial nodules located closed to ureter and rectum.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A 43-year-old female underwent laparoscopic cystectomy after being diagnosed to have right endometriosis cyst. The researchers found multiple endometriosis nodules located closed to rectum and ureter after performing cystectomy. A search was conducted on PubMed® with the keywords of "Peritoneal endometriosis nodule" AND "rectovaginal endometriosis nodule" AND "Surgical ablation" OR "Surgical excision" AND "Laparoscopy" AND "Pelvic pain". Reference lists of relevant articles were searched for other possible relevant studies. After selecting the articles, the critical review was performed based on a standardized appraisal form for the treatment study.

DISCUSSION

Three eligible studies were appraised to assess the surgery outcome (dyspareunia), based on ablation and excision criteria. The pain was decreased during 6 months of follow up, with no difference in both techniques. The minimal requirement to remove the posterior nodules is knowledge of pelvic retroperitoneal anatomy.

CONCLUSION

In all endometriosis cases which require surgery will need to be performed by an experienced operator. If rectovaginal endometriosis nodule was unexpectedly found during intraoperative and recognition of rectum and ureter must be done, knowledge of retroperitoneal anatomy is required.

Systematic review of quality of life measures in patients with endometriosis

OBJECTIVES

Endometriosis and quality of life has been the subject of much research, however, there is little consensus on how best to evaluate quality of life in endometriosis, resulting in many and diverse scales being used. In our study, we aim to identify quality of life scales used in endometriosis, to review their strengths and weaknesses and to establish what would define an ideal scale in the evaluation of endometriosis-related quality of life.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A search of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases was carried out for publications in English and French for the period from 1980 to February 2017, using the words 'endometriosis' and 'quality of life'. Publications were selected if they reported on quality of life in patients with endometriosis and specified use of a quality of life scale. A quantitative and a qualitative analysis of each scale was performed in order to establish the strengths and weaknesses for each scale (systematic registration number: PROSPERO 2014: CRD42014014210).

RESULTS

A total of 1538 articles publications were initially identified. After exclusion of duplicates and application of inclusion criteria, 201 studies were selected for analysis. The SF-36, a generic HRQoL measure, was found to be the most frequently used scale, followed by the EHP-30, a measure specific to endometriosis. Both perform well, when compared with other scales, with scale weaknesses offset by strengths. EHP-5 and EQ-5D also showed to be of good quality. All four were the only scales to report on MCID studied in endometriosis patients.

CONCLUSION

For clinical practice, routine evaluation of HRQOL in women with endometriosis is essential both for health-care providers and patients. Both SF-36 and EHP-30 perform better overall with regard to their strengths and weaknesses when compared to other scales.