Tailoring radicality in diaphragmatic surgery for deep endometriosis: A matter of choice

Diaphragmatic endometriosis (DpE) is a rare disease localization which represents an important clinical challenge. The main criticisms toward the proper DpE management consist of poor consensus on both surgical indications and the choice between different surgical techniques available to treat the disease. Furthermore, only weak recommendations are provided by current guidelines and surgical management is mostly based on surgeon's experience. As consequence, the lack of standardization about the surgical treatment led to the risk of under- or over-treatments in patients suffering from this form of endometriosis. The latest evidence-based data suggest to adopt a lesion-oriented surgical approach serving as a guide in daily surgical activities, in order to ensure a tailored radicality and reduce the rate of surgery-related complications. Diaphragmatic endometriosis surgery should be performed only by expert surgeons with an extensive oncogynecologic expertise since it represents a technically demanding procedure. A multidisciplinary approach is also mandatory in order to adequately select and treat these patients by minimizing the risk of additional morbidity.

Robotic assisted laparoscopy for deep infiltrating endometriosis

Deep infiltrative endometriosis is a condition affecting up to 15 % of women of childbearing age, defined by extra uterine location of endometrial like tissues. The symptoms of endometriosis range from severe dysmenorrhea to infertility, chronic pelvic pain, bowel dysfunction and urinary tract involvement to name the most common. Endometriosis has an impact on the quality of life of patients, with personal and social consequences. Although medical treatment is indicated in the first instance, surgery may be necessary. Standard laparoscopy has become the gold standard for this surgery. However, surgery for deep infiltrative endometriosis is known to be highly complex, and the significant development of robotic assistance in recent years has had an impact on the evolution of surgical practice. This comprehensive review of the literature provides an overview of the contributions of robotic surgery in the field of endometriosis and gives an insight into the next steps in its development.

True Prevalence of Diaphragmatic Endometriosis and Its Association with Severe Endometriosis: A Call for Awareness and Investigation

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To identify characteristics indicating preoperatively the presence of diaphragmatic endometriosis (DE).

DESIGN

Comparison of characteristics of patients with diaphragmatic endometriosis (DE) with characteristics of patients with abdominal endometriosis without diaphragmatic involvement, in a prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center; endometriosis center.

PATIENTS

A total of 1372 patients with histologically proven endometriosis.

INTERVENTIONS

Surgery performed laparoscopically under general anesthesia. All patients with suspected endometriosis underwent a complete bilateral inspection of the diaphragm.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Demographic and clinical pathologic characteristics were evaluated using basic descriptive statistics (comparison of the groups using the χ2 test and the Mann-Whitney t test). A logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship (hazard ratio) between symptoms and the presence of DE. DE was diagnosed in 4.7% of the patients (65 of 1372). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups (patients with abdominal endometriosis with or without DE) with regard to typical endometriosis pain (dysmenorrhea, dyschezia, dysuria, and/or dyspareunia). However, in the DE group, diaphragmatic pain was present significantly more often preoperatively (27.7% vs 1.8%, p <.001). Four DE patients (6.1 %) were asymptomatic (with infertility the indication for surgery). In the DE group, 78.4 % had advanced stages of endometriosis (revised American Fertility Society III° or IV°); the left lower pelvis was affected in more patients (73.8%). In cases of ovarian endometriosis, patients with DE showed a significantly higher prevalence of left ovaries involvement (left 63% vs right 35.7%, p <.001). Patients with DE had a significantly higher rate of infertility (49.2% vs 28.7%, p <.05).

CONCLUSION

Patients with shoulder pain, infertility, and/or endometriosis in the left pelvis have a significant higher risk of DE and therefore need specific preoperative counseling and if indicated surgical treatment.

Diaphragmatic endometriosis: robotic approaches and techniques

OBJECTIVE

To present different approaches used in the surgical management of diaphragmatic endometriosis using the Davinci Robotic system.

DESIGN

A video article presenting patient positioning, port placement, and surgical techniques used in robotic excision of diaphragmatic endometriosis with concomitant pelvic disease.

SETTING

Endometriosis center.

PATIENT(S)

Patients undergoing excision of diaphragmatic endometriosis.

INTERVENTION(S)

Systematic robotic approach to excise diaphragmatic lesions depending on the depth of invasion.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES(S)

The advantages and disadvantages of the lithotomy and the lateral decubitus approach were reviewed. Ports placements are illustrated according to the chosen approach. Diaphragmatic peritoneal stripping, diaphragmatic shaving, and diaphragmatic excision are different techniques used according to the depth of invasion.

RESULTS(S)

N/A.

CONCLUSION(S)

The choice of approach between the lithotomy position and the left lateral decubitus position depend on the extent of the diaphragmatic disease and the presence of concomitant pelvic lesions. Despite the lack of high-quality evidence, the advantages of the robotic system may improve the outcomes in such difficult cases in comparison with conventional laparoscopy.

Diagnosis and treatment of diaphragmatic endometriosis: results of an international patient survey

OBJECTIVES

To quantify the delays associated with the diagnosis and treatment of diaphragmatic endometriosis (DE), and to evaluate patient-reported postoperative outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN

An anonymous survey was designed to collect data regarding demographics, duration and nature of DE symptoms, type of surgery and postoperative outcomes. Members of endometriosis patient associations in 14 countries were invited to complete the survey if they had been diagnosed with DE. Factors associated with postoperative outcomes were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U and Fisher's exact tests.

RESULTS

Data was available from 136 respondents (median age 34 years). 98 % of respondents were from Europe, North America or Oceania. The most frequently reported symptoms of DE were moderate-severe pain in the upper abdomen (68 %), chest (64 %) and shoulder (54 %). Pain was right-sided in 54 %, left-sided in 11 % and bilateral in 35 %. Of 122 respondents who initially consulted a primary care physician, a gynaecology referral occurred after a median of five consultations (range 1-100). The median time between first primary care consultation and diagnosis of DE was two years (range 0-23). 31 % were diagnosed >1 year after their first gynaecology consultation (range 1-13 years), and 30 % required two or more laparoscopies before diagnosis. 116 respondents underwent surgical treatment. Postoperative data was available for 113 respondents, and 65 % reported either a significant improvement or complete resolution of symptoms. There was no significant difference in age (P = 0.19), timing of diagnosis (P = 0.59) or type of procedure (excision or ablation) (P = 0.13) between respondents who did and did not experience symptomatic relief after surgery. 61 % reported long-lasting symptomatic relief after a median of 1 year, whilst 39 % reported ongoing moderate-severe pain or have undergone further surgery for recurrent symptoms.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis and treatment of diaphragmatic endometriosis is often delayed, due to lack of awareness by patients and healthcare professionals. The diagnosis of DE requires a high index of suspicion and involvement of surgeons trained in laparoscopic liver mobilization. Recurrent symptoms are common following surgical treatment, and international collaborative studies are required to determine the long-term outcomes of this condition.

Diaphragmatic endometriosis minimally invasive treatment: a feasible and effective approach

The present review aims to analyse the current data available on the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of the minimally invasive surgical (MIS) treatment of diaphragmatic endometriosis (DE). Through the use of PubMed and Google Scholar database, we conducted a literature review of all available research related to diagnosis and treatment of DE, focussed on the minimally invasive techniques. The studies were selected independently by two authors according to the aim of this review. DE is an under-diagnosed disease affecting between 0.1% and 1.5% of fertile women. It is predominantly multiple, asymptomatic and highly associated with pelvic disease in about 50-90%. MIS techniques seems to be safe, effective and feasible in tertiary advanced endometriosis centre, offering definitive advantages in terms of hospital stay, post-operative pain and return to normal activity by using several surgical techniques as hydro-dissection plus resection, laser CO₂ vaporisation, electrical fulguration, Sugarbaker peritonectomy, partial (shaving) and full-thickness diaphragmatic resection. Symptoms control range from 85% to 100%, with less than 3% of conversion, peri-operative complications and recurrence rate. All cases must be performed by multidisciplinary teams including at least a gynaecologist, thoracic surgeon and anaesthetist. The lack of prospective evaluation of DE interferes with the understanding about the natural history of disease and treatment results. Therefore, the development of adequate evidence-based recommendations about diagnosis, management and follow-up is difficult at this moment.

Laparoscopic Resection of Diaphragmatic Endometriosis in 10 Steps

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Laparoscopic resection of diaphragmatic endometriosis has the advantages of a minimally invasive approach [1]. The standardization and description of the technique are the main objectives of this video. We described the procedure in 10 steps to make it easier and safer.

DESIGN

A step-by-step video demonstration of the technique (Video 1).

SETTING

A French university tertiary care hospital.

PATIENTS

Patients with diaphragmatic endometriosis confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging [2]. The local institutional review board ruled that approval was not required for this video article because the video describes a technique and does not report a clinical case.

INTERVENTION

There are no guidelines on the surgical treatment of diaphragmatic endometriosis [3]. We propose a laparoscopic approach using a right lateral access with the patient in the left lateral decubitus position [4].

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

This video presents the procedure divided into the following 10 steps: step 1, set up; step 2, patient position; step 3, installation of the trocars; step 4, releasing the liver; step 5, exposure of the diaphragmatic endometriosis; step 6, making a diaphragmatic defect; step 7, exploring the thoracic cavity; step 8, resection of diaphragmatic endometriosis; step 9, inserting the suction catheter; and step 10, closing the diaphragmatic defect.

CONCLUSION

Standardization of laparoscopic resection of diaphragmatic endometriosis could make this procedure easier and safer to perform. The left lateral decubitus position helps to have complete exposure of the right diaphragmatic muscle and endometriosis. We presented 10 steps to help perform each part of the surgery in logical sequence, making the procedure ergonomic and easier to adopt and learn [5]. Standardization of laparoscopic techniques could help to reduce the learning curve.

Diaphragmatic Endometriosis: Multidisciplinary Treatment

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate a safe laparoscopic procedure for diaphragmatic infiltrative endometriosis.

DESIGN

Video case SETTING: Teaching hospital (Canadian Task Force classification III).

PATIENTS

One patient presenting deep and severe diaphragmatic endometriosis.

INTERVENTION

Laparoscopic cure of diaphragmatic endometriosis.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Throughout this video, which was approved by the institutional board review, we demonstrate safe and complete surgical treatment of a patient suffering severe pelvic and diaphragmatic endometriosis. The patient complained of menstrual dyspnea and shoulder pain persisting despite hormonal treatment, associated with persistent dyspareunia and pelvic pain despite a previous laparoscopic surgery. Patient positioning and anesthesia were adapted to the special requirements of the surgical technique and the expected risks. The operation consisted of the exposure of the right diaphragm by mobilization of the liver, CO₂ laser vaporization of left and right diaphragmatic lesions, nerve-sparing excision of infiltrating nodules, and pleural exploration. Finally, we performed an excision of pelvic endometriosis. Participation of 3 surgical teams to this procedure allowed a safe and complete laparoscopic treatment with resolution of pain symptoms at a 1- and 3-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic treatment allows a safe and complete treatment of diaphragmatic endometriosis.