Short-term outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for deep infiltrative endometriosis with rectal involvement: a single-center experience of 168 cases

Purpose The surgical management of deep infiltrative endometriosis (DE) involving the rectum remains a challenge. The objective of this study was to assess the outcomes from a single tertiary center over a decade with an emphasis on the role of a protective loop ileostomy (PI). Methods A retrospective review of outcomes for 168 patients managed between 2008 and 2018 is presented including 57 rectal shaves, 23 discoid excisions, and 88 segmental rectal resections. Results The nodule size (mean±standard deviation) in the segmental resection group was 32.7±11.2 mm, 23.4±10.5 mm for discoid excision, and 18.8±6.0 mm for rectal shaves. A PI was performed in 19 elective cases (11.3%) usually for an ultra-low anastomosis