Five cases of laparoscopic bowel resection for intestinal endometriosis

Abstract

We herein present our initial experience of laparoscopic bowel surgery in 5 patients with intestinal endometriosis. Three patients had ileal endometriosis and 2 had rectal endometriosis. Four of the 5 patients presented with intestinal obstruction, while 1 patient underwent emergency surgery for bowel perforation. All patients wished to conceive children in the future, and laparoscopic resection of the affected lesions was performed with preservation of the uterus and uterine appendages in all patients. The endometrial glands were found within the thickened bowel wall of the resected specimens in all patients. The patients' postoperative courses were uneventful, and none developed postoperative recurrence of intestinal endometriosis during the follow-up period. Laparoscopic surgery for intestinal endometriosis can be safely performed and may be useful as a minimally invasive surgery for young women.