Intestinal endometriosis amongst other extra-pelvic endometriosis foci presenting as acute/subacute bowel obstruction in women of reproductive age: a retrospective case series study

BMC Surg. 2025 Jan 7;25(1):12. doi: 10.1186/s12893-024-02755-y.

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinicopathological correlates of intestinal endometriosis, amongst other extra-pelvic endometriosis foci, presenting as bowel obstruction in general surgery practice.

Methods: A total of 23 female patients (mean ± SD age: 34.9 ± 6.5 years) who underwent abdominal surgery for acute bowel obstruction and received histopathological diagnosis of endometriosis were included in this retrospective case-series study. Data on patient characteristics, obstetric history, preoperative laboratory and imaging findings, preoperative provisional diagnosis, type of surgical intervention and the pathological diagnosis, and postoperative outcomes were recorded.

Results: Definitive diagnoses on histopathological work-up involved intestinal endometriosis (52.2%), scar endometriosis (26.0%), ovarian endometriosis (13.0%) and inguinal endometriosis (8.7%). Postoperative complication, reoperation and recurrence rates were 8.7%, 8.7%, and 13.0%, respectively. Intestinal endometriosis, when compared to other extra-pelvic endometriosis foci (scar and inguinal), was associated with significantly higher preoperative platelet counts (332.0(284.0-528.0)vs. 239.0(223.0-370.0) 103/µL, p = 0.010), lower albumin levels (4.0(2.7-4.7) vs. 4.5(4.2-4.9) g/dL, p = 0.029), higher rates of preoperative CT utilization (91.7% vs. 0.0%, p < 0.001) and emergent surgery (83.3% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.001) and longer LOS (median 4.5 (1.0-26.0) vs. 1.0(1.0-1.0) days, p = 0.001) along with a non-significant tendency for higher postoperative complication (16.7% vs. 0.0%) and ICU stay (25.0% vs. 0.0%) rates.

Conclusion: Our findings revealed intestinal endometriosis, predominantly in the terminal ileum/appendix, was the most common extra-pelvic cause of acute bowel obstruction. The scar endometriosis, inguinal endometriosis and ovarian endometriosis appeared to be other potential but less prevalent aetiologies in this setting.

Keywords: Abdominal surgery; Bowel obstruction; Extra-pelvic endometriosis; Intestinal endometriosis.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Endometriosis* / complications
  • Endometriosis* / diagnosis
  • Endometriosis* / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Diseases / complications
  • Intestinal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Intestinal Diseases / etiology
  • Intestinal Diseases / surgery
  • Intestinal Obstruction* / diagnosis
  • Intestinal Obstruction* / epidemiology
  • Intestinal Obstruction* / etiology
  • Intestinal Obstruction* / surgery
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Retrospective Studies