Objective: To review articles highlighting the effectiveness of conservative laparoscopic ureterolysis as a primary treatment option in patients with ureteric endometriosis and to report on a further three cases.
Patients and methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane database were searched to identify articles reporting cases of laparoscopic management of ureteric endometriosis and, in particular management by ureterolysis. We further described three new cases of ureteric endometriosis managed at our institute.
Results: The present study illustrates the significance of laparoscopic ureterolysis in the management of patients with ureteric endometriosis. In our cases, a systematic surgical approach was followed in order to perform complete but careful excision of the all visible endometriotic implants. During follow-up successful treatment was established by relief of hydroureteronephrosis by ultrasonographic evaluation.
Conclusion: Considering the risk of loss of renal function and due to the nonspecific symptoms, a prompt clinical suspicion and thorough preoperative assessment can potentially help in the diagnosis. We conclude that laparoscopic ureterolysis is a minimally invasive technique with low complication and recurrence rates. It is a suitable option as a primary approach for selected patients with ureteric endometriosis, if done in a systematic step-by-step approach.
Keywords: Hydronephrosis; Laparoscopic ureterolysis; PRISMA, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses; US, ultrasonography; Ureteric endometriosis.