Bowel ENDOmetriosis; Evaluation of Diagnostics and Quality of Life

Mild endometriosis normally affects the peritoneum. More advanced form of endometriosis is termed deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). In women suffering from DIE, the endometriotic tissue invades the tissue >5mm below the peritoneal surface, affecting organs in the pelvis like the ovaries, uterus, vagina, bladder, ureters and/or bowel. In women with suspected endometriosis, the prevalence of DIE affecting the bowel is found to range from 24.0 to 73.3%. The symptoms of DIE can be debilitating with dysmenorrhoea, dyspareunia, altered bowel motions, dyschezia and/or dysuria. Thus, it may have an immense impact on women's quality of life with societal consequences.

The risk of complications with surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) of the bowel can be severe like anastomotic leak and rectovaginal fistula. Evidence show that there is an increased risk of anastomotic leaks bowel if the anastomosis <5-8cm from the anal verge. DIE of the rectosigmoid colon can be diagnosed by widely available and low-cost two-dimensional transvaginal sonograhpy (2D-TVS) with a high sensitivity and specificity. MRI is comparable to TVS in diagnosis of intestinal endometriosis but is costlier and less available than TVS. MRI has the advantage over 2D-TVS that it is reproducible, the area of interest can be viewed in many planes and the images can be reviewed and compared by same or different examiners over time.

There are two surgical approaches used in women suffering from bowel endometriosis, namely segmental resection of rectosigmoid or nodule excision. Nodule excision may be performed by shaving (not opening the rectum) or disc excision (removing bowel nodule with surrounding rectal wall). The success of pelvic pain reduction following surgery in women suffering from DIE is related to the radicality of surgery. However, some argue a more symptom-guided approach to surgery.

Endometriosis itself and surgical treatment may have immense impact endometriosis can have on a woman's life. Thus, it is essential to discuss the severity of symptoms, any implications of surgery as well as the risk of complications to enable women informed consent. The pre-operative information and decision making is based on symptoms, fertility wish, the clinical examination and diagnostic tests. Consequently, diagnostic tools such as TVS and MRI are important factors to plan and perform a safe procedure with the best possible outcomes for the women.

There are, to the investigator's knowledge, no studies, which demonstrate if there is a correlation between measurement of the size of an endometriotic rectosigmoid lesion with 2D-TVS compared to the actual lesion size in the resected bowel. Additionally, there are no studies that investigate the correlation between the distance between the rectosigmoid lesion and the anal verge, to plan appropriate surgery and estimate risk of serious complications. Furthermore, there are no known studies evaluating the correlation of measurements of bowel lesions when comparing transvaginal 2D-TVS, MRI and surgery. The aim of surgery is to improve women's quality of life and thus it is essential to evaluate results before and after surgery for bowel endometriosis.

Inclusion criteria

• Women of reproductive age, ≥ 18 years old, scheduled for planned laparoscopic or open bowel surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis with suspected symptomatic bowel lesions.

Exclusion criteria

• Postmenopausal women, women < 18 years old, women with previous bowel surgery. Women who do not speak and read fluent English or Norwegian.