[Laparoscopic examination and treatment of abdominal cocoon with infertility: a report of 6 cases].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the abdominal cocoon complicated with infertility using laparoscope and its clinical management.

METHODS

Six cases of abdominal cocoon treated in our hospital from January 1998 to December 2002 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Of the 6 patients all with primary and tubal infertility, 3 received routine closed laparoscope operation, and other 3 failed for laparoscopy and were transferred to laparotomy. During the surgery it was found that the abdomen and pelvis were filled with multiple layer fibrous tissue which enveloped the bowel and reproductive organs, making exploration nearly impossible. It was difficult to ablate the envelope.

CONCLUSION

Abdominal cocoon can be diagnosed in those primary and tubal infertile patients when the charge is hindered in the process of laparoscope. The optimal treatment of the infertility for those patients is in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.