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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2014; 20(42): 15616-15623
Published online Nov 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i42.15616
Published online Nov 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i42.15616
Bowel endometriosis: Colorectal surgeon’s perspective in a multidisciplinary surgical team
Albert M Wolthuis, Anthony de Buck van Overstraeten, André D’Hoore, Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
Christel Meuleman, Carla Tomassetti, Thomas D’Hooghe, Leuven University Fertility Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
Author contributions: Wolthuis AM and Tomassetti C designed and performed research; Meuleman C, D’Hooghe T and D’Hoore A made substantial contributions to the concept and design of the study; Wolthuis AM, de Buck van Overstraeten A and Tomassetti C analyzed the data; Wolthuis AM, Meuleman C, Tomassetti C, D’Hooghe T, de Buck van Overstraeten A and D’Hoore A wrote the paper and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Albert M Wolthuis, MD, Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Hospital Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven 3000, Belgium. albert.wolthuis@uzleuven.be
Telephone: +32-16-344265 Fax: +32-16-344832
Received: January 7, 2014
Revised: April 7, 2001
Accepted: June 26, 2014
Published online: November 14, 2014
Revised: April 7, 2001
Accepted: June 26, 2014
Published online: November 14, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Multidisciplinary laparoscopic treatment of extensive endometriosis with bowel involvement has become the standard of care. Depending on the size of the bowel lesion and site of bowel involvement, full-thickness disc excision or bowel resection needs to be performed by an experienced colorectal surgeon. This narrative review discusses in depth the role of a colorectal surgeon in a multidisciplinary team treating bowel endometriosis. From clinical and diagnostic work-up to surgical treatment for different colorectal localizations of endometriosis, each issue is addressed. Furthermore, postoperative outcomes, regarding symptom control, recurrence, and fertility, are discussed.