Complications of deep infiltrative endometriosis of gastrointestinal tract

Abstract

Objective: to summarize the literature data on the main complications of deep infiltrative endometriosis, including ileocecal. Endometriosis is a mysterious disease that can begin to develop from birth. Despite all the already existing theories of the origin and development of this disease, large-scale research is still required to obtain answers to numerous questions about the etiology, pathogenesis, phenotypes of this nosology and its connection with pain and infertility. Most often, external genital endometriosis affects various parts of the gastrointestinal tract. The rectosigmoid junction of the colon is most commonly affected (81.3%), followed by the appendix (6.4%), small intestine (4.7%), dome of the cecum (4.1%) and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract ( 1.7%). In recent years, interest in the problem of ileocecal endometriosis, its timely diagnosis and treatment has begun to grow among practicing specialists. Today, deep infiltrative endometriosis is widely studied not only by obstetricians-gynecologists, but also by related specialists, such as general surgeons, coloproctologists and gastroenterologists, in connection with extragenital lesions leading to severe complications. Cases of intestinal perforation due to deep infiltrative endometriosis, bleeding, as well as cases of small intestinal obstruction have been described.