Quality of Life, Bowel and Urinary Functions After Surgery for Bowel Endometriosis

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate pain symptoms, functional outcomes, and quality of life (QoL) before and after surgery for rectosigmoid endometriosis.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on patients who underwent laparoscopic segmental resection, discoid resection, or shaving for DIE in a tertiary referral hospital. Pre- and postoperative data based on surgical records and questionnaires covering bowel, urinary function, and QoL were collected. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Constipation Severity Scale (CSS), Overactive Bladder-Validated 8-questionnaire Screener (OAB-V8), and 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were used as scales.
RESULTS: All measures of QoL except mental health were improved at three months after surgery. The median Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain score significantly decreased three months after surgery (p<0.001). Women surgically treated had significantly improved results on the Constipation Severity Scale (p<0.001). Overall Overactive Bladder-Validated 8-questionnaire Screener scores did not show any significant change after surgery when compared to the preoperative scores (p<0.001). There were few complications associated with surgery for rectosigmoid endometriosis.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Surgery for rectosigmoid endometriosis results in improvements in all aspects of pain and bowel functions three months after surgery. A significant and clinically relevant improvement in QoL, except for mental health, was observed three months after surgery.