An eight-year retrospective analysis of laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis, outcomes and complications in a large multicenter unit

Background: Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting up to 10% of the female population. Management often involves surgical treatment with excision or ablation of lesions. Aim: To evaluate the surgical outcomes and complications rates of endometriosis related laparoscopic surgery. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of all women who underwent endometriosis-related surgery over an eight-year period in a multicenter gynecological unit. Results: A total of 972 patients met the inclusion criteria. Six hundred and fifty-eight (67.9%) women had Stage 1 or 2 endometriosis and 314 (32.1%) had stage 3 or 4 endometriosis. The patients with stage 3 or 4 endometriosis were more likely to have longer operative times (105 vs. 65 minutes, p = 0.001), more likely to require a conversion to laparotomy (12 vs. 6 p=.002) and were more likely to suffer from a complication (16 vs. 9, p = 0.003). The stage of endometriosis was found to be the only independent variable related to surgical complications and conversions to laparotomy. Conclusion: Surgery is an effective treatment option for all women with endometriosis, however it is significantly more effective in women with moderate to severe endometriosis, although they are at higher risk of complications.