Background and Objectives:Thoracic endometriosis is a rare form of extragenital endometriosis with important clinical ramifications. Up to 80% of women with thoracic endometriosis have concomitant abdominopelvic endometriosis, yet the surgical treatment is usually performed with separate procedures. This is the largest published series of the combination of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and traditional laparoscopy for the treatment of abdominopelvic and thoracic endometriosis. The objectives of this series are to further evaluate the manifestations of thoracic endometriosis, assess the multidisciplinary surgical approach, and discuss our institution's protocols.Methods:This is a retrospective, institutional review board–approved case series of 25 consecutive women who underwent combined video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and traditional laparoscopy for the treatment of abdominopelvic, diaphragmatic, and thoracic endometriosis from January 1, 2008, to September 30, 2013. All surgeries were performed at a tertiary referral center by the same primary surgeons. Data were collected by chart review.Results:Twenty-five patients were included, with a mean age of 37.7 years. Eighty percent of patients had catamenial chest pain, and in 40% this was their only chest complaint. Shoulder pain was noted in 40% of patients, catamenial pneumothorax in 24%, and hemoptysis in 12%. One hundred percent of patients were found to have endometriosis in the pelvis, 100% in the diaphragm, 64% in the chest wall, and 40% in the parenchyma. There were 2 major postoperative complications: 1 diaphragmatic hernia and 1 vaginal cuff hematoma.Conclusion:Clinical suspicion and preoperative assessment are crucial in the diagnosis of thoracic endometriosis and allow for a multidisciplinary approach. The combination of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and traditional laparoscopy for the treatment of endometriosis optimally addresses the pelvis, diaphragm, and thoracic cavity in a single operation.

Background/Objectives:It has been shown that major gynecologic laparoscopy is safe in hospital ambulatory settings, but there is little data to suggest the same in freestanding ambulatory surgery centers. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of advanced gynecologic laparoscopic surgery using a fast-track model in freestanding ambulatory surgery centers and discusses our institution protocols.Methods:Retrospective, multicenter review was conducted of major gynecologic surgeries from August 1st 2010 to September 30th 2011 in 3 surgical centers with one primary surgeon. All patients were treated for symptomatic uterine leiomyomas and/or endometriosis. Primary outcome measures were unplanned admissions and discharge within 23 hours.Results:One hundred and thirty-four patients underwent major laparoscopic gynecologic surgery with a total of 160 procedures: 77 stage IV endometriosis treatment including 7 disk excisions of endometriosis from the large bowel, 3 ureteroneocystostomies and 1 partial bladder resection, 38 myomectomies, and 34 hysterectomies including 12 modified radical hysterectomies. The overall unplanned admission rate was 4.5%. One hundred and thirty-one patients (97.7%) were discharged within 24 hours after surgery. Three patients (2.2%) were transferred to the hospital postoperatively: 1 patient for observation of postoperative anemia and 2 patients for postoperative fever. Three patients (2.2%) were admitted to the hospital after discharge: 1 patient for postoperative ileus, 1 patient for postoperative fever, and 1 patient with septic pelvic thrombophlebitis. These postoperative issues all resolved without complication, and all patients had an uneventful follow-up.Conclusions:With appropriate resources and an experienced surgeon, advanced laparoscopic surgery can be safely performed in a fast-track ambulatory surgery center with a high rate of discharge within 23 hours and low unplanned readmission rate.

No abstract