Transvaginal and transperineal ultrasound follow-up after laparoscopic correction of uterine retrodisplacement in women with posterior deep infiltrating endometriosis.

BACKGROUND

Retrodisplacement of the uterus (retroflexion and/or retroversion) may be associated with pelvic pain symptoms and posterior deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). Previous studies in symptomatic women with retrodisplacement of the uterus showed the efficacy of hysteropexy in terms of pain symptoms improvement.

AIM: To evaluate sonographic, clinical and surgical outcomes of a hysteropexy technique MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Laparoscopic round ligament plication and tilting of the uterine fundus in women with uterine retrodisplacement and posterior deep infiltrating endometriosis was performed. Forty-two symptomatic women were enrolled and the sonographic data of each (angle of uterine version and uterine flexion, uterine mobility) was assessed before and after surgery with transvaginal and transperineal approaches. Women were also evaluated at 1, 6 and 12 months after surgery for pain symptoms with a numerical rating scale (dysmenorrhoea, dyspareunia and chronic pelvic pain), intraoperative data and surgical complications.

RESULTS

The additional mean operative time of hysteropexy procedure was 8 ± 3 min. At early follow-up both the uterine angles were significantly (P < 0.001) reduced. At 12-month follow-up, seven patients (16.7%) presented a retroverted uterus, while 12 (28.6%) presented a retroflexed uterus; the sliding sign remained negative in four patients (9.5%). A significant improvement of symptoms (P < 0.001) was observed during the follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic hysteropexy appears as an effective additional surgical procedure, which can temporarily correct the uterine position in order to reduce the risk of postoperative adhesions.