Effects of Extensive Abdominal Lavage on Postoperative Inflammation Following Full Thickness Excision of Deep Endometriosis

In a consecutive series 20 women with full thickness resection for deep endometriosis received randomly, at the end of the procedure, a standard abdominal rinsing (n=10) or extensive abdominal lavage with 8 Liters of saline (n=10). C-reactive protein and white blood cell count values were collected daily for 7 days. Women were observed for complications during the first post-operative week and during the follow up at 1 and 6 months.

The primary end point was to evaluate the effects of extensive abdominal lavage on post-operative inflammation. Secondary end-point was to explore the potential protective rule against post-operative bowel complications.

Inclusion criteria

• The patients (aged 18-50 years) were all recruited from a single, tertiary referral hospital at Leuven University, Belgium, specializing in the surgical treatment of severe endometriosis.
• All the women were scheduled for a surgical excision of a rectovaginal nodule.
• Women with a full thickness involvement of the bowel requiring discoid resection were included.

Exclusion criteria

• evidence on chest x-ray in the previous 3 months of old or currently active TB, even if adequately treated;
• evidence of serious infections (such as pneumonia or pyelonephritis) in the previous 3 months
• evidence of a documented HIV infection, active hepatitis-B or C, or an opportunistic infection (e.g. herpes zoster, cytomegalovirus, pneumocystis carinii, aspergillosis, histoplasmosis, or mycobacteria other than TB) in the previous 6 months
• Previous transplant surgery, a lymphoproliferative disorder or other malignancy
• Positive cervical cytology in the previous 6 months
• Any haematological or biochemical abnormalities on routine screening.