Impact of endometriosis on surgical outcomes and complications of total laparoscopic hysterectomy

Purpose: Total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) in the case of endometriosis may be extremely challenging. Our aim has been to analyze perioperative details and complications of TLH in women with vs. women without endometriosis. Methods: Consecutive women who underwent TLH for endometriosis (endometriosis group) were compared with consecutive patients who had TLH for other conditions (controls) in terms of perioperative outcomes. Patients in the endometriosis group were analyzed, according to the severity of the disease. Results: One-hundred and twelve women in the endometriosis group, 29 (25.9 %) with minimal–mild, and 83 (74.1 %) with moderate–severe stage disease (rAFS score), respectively, were compared with 572 controls. Conversion rate was 0.8 vs. 0.5 % (P = 0.51), and median operative time was 75 vs. 55 min (pxxx = x) in the endometriosis group vs. controls. Intraoperative complications were similar between groups (P = 0.56). Postoperative complications occurred in 10 (12.3 %) women in the endometriosis group vs. 12 (3.3 %) among the controls (P = 0.002). The severity of complications according to Clavien–Dindo classification system was higher in the endometriosis group (Clavien–Dindo >2: 7.5 vs. 1.9 %). The risk of organ lesions, urinary lesions, postoperative complications, and severe adverse events was significantly higher in women with moderate–severe endometriosis vs. controls. No differences between patients with minimal–mild endometriosis and controls were found. Conclusion(s): TLH in the case of endometriosis is associated with longer operative time and an almost fourfold increase in the risk and severity of complications compared with controls. In particular, the adjunctive risk of adverse events is specific for moderate/severe-stage disease but not for minimal/mild endometriosis.