Complete Surgery for Low Rectal Endometriosis: Long-term Results of a 100-Case Prospective Study

We conducted a prospective study to assess the long-term results of complete surgery for low rectal endometriosis (LRE), paying particular attention to surgical complications, functional results, and disease recurrence after a follow-up of at least 5 years. Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) may infiltrate the midlow rectum and lead to severe pelvic pain. Complete resection of LRE is reluctantly considered by young women of childbearing age. From 1995 to 2003, 100 women with severe pelvic pain and previous incomplete surgery (n=82) underwent complete open surgery for LRE after thorough preoperative imaging work-up. This included total or subtotal rectal excision with combined resection of all extrarectal endometriotic lesions. Univariate analysis of predictive factors for transient neurogenic bladder and surgical complications was performed. Mean follow-up was 78+/-15 months. All patients underwent rectal resection with straight coloanal (n=16) or low colorectal anastomosis (n=84). A concomitant extrarectal procedure was required in all instances, including gynecologic procedures (n=100), additional intestinal (n=45), and urologic (n=23) resections. A fertility-preserving procedure was possible in 92% of the patients. Mean numbers of DIE and endometriotic lesions were 3.9+/-1.4 and 5.5+/-1.6 per patient, respectively. There were no deaths and the surgical morbidity rate was 16%. Sixteen patients developed a transient peripheral neurogenic bladder, which was more frequently observed after colonanal anastomosis (P