Evaluating Ovarian Reserve After Conventional Laparoscopy Versus Robotic Surgery for Bilateral Endometrioma

Experimental Plan

Study design This trial is a prospective, randomized-controlled study investigating postoperative differences in ovarian reserve differing between robot-assisted laparoscopy compared to conventional laparoscopy in patients with bilaterial ovarian endometrioma by comparing serum AMH (sAMH) level recovery. Postoperative follow-up will take place after 6 months. All women referred to our department for endometrioma will undergo clinical examination by a senior surgeon experienced in endometriosis as well as ultrasound. All patients with bilateral endometrioma will be included. Complementary examinations, such as cystoscopy or renal sonography will be performed in women with suspected involvement of urinary tract.

In women with pregnancy intention and endometrioma, an exhaustive assessment of the disease will systematically be performed before deciding between primary surgery and primary assisted reproductive techniques.

Gynecological examination will be performed at each visit. Ovarian reserve will be evaluated using antral follicle count (AFC) via transvaginal sonography, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels and ovarian volume.

Follicle number will be evaluated by pathologists in the histologic tissue sections.

Furthermore, subjective outcome will be assessed with standardized questionnaires.

Study setting This study will be conducted at the gynecologic outpatient clinic (Division of General Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna). Enrollment, treatment and data collection will be standardized by all sites according to the approved study protocol.

Participants and recruitment The study population will consist of women aged between 18 and 45 years who are referred to our gynecologic outpatient clinic due to endometrioma. Women with bilateral endometrioma and an indication for surgery can be included in this trial.

Intervention Laparoscopic-assisted cystectomy of endometrioma will be performed using up to four 5-mm ports, including an umbilical port and additional ports as dictated by each individual surgery. The robotic-assisted resection of endometriosis will be performed using the da Vinci Surgical System Si (Intuitive Surgical) using up to five ports as needed. An umbilical port was placed for the laparoscope (10/12 mm), a 5-mm port for the assistant, and two or three ports (5/8 mm) for the robotic arms. Superficial and deep endometriosis resection will be performed in the usual standard fashion. All superficial lesions suspicious for endometriosis (pigmented and nonpigmented) will be completely resected until non-diseased peritoneal margins are visualized around the defect; all deep lesions suspicious for endometriosis will be completely resected until non-diseased margins are visualized in the tissue surrounding the defect. Cystectomy will be performed for endometriomas. Additional procedures are performed as needed to completely resect all endometriosis lesions. The fascia of any port ≥10 mm will be reapproximated. A cystoscopy will be performed when deemed appropriate by the surgeon. If bowel resection and re-anastomosis are necessary this will be performed together with a General Surgeon.

Participating surgeons will be defined as high-volume surgeons in endometriosis surgery and will also be part of the endometriosis core team.

Histological confirmation of endometriosis will be performed.

Postoperative Management: The patients are instructed to rest for 2 weeks after the operation (not to work, do sport, do the cleaning, and carry more than five kilos). They are allowed to return to work after 2 weeks and to take part in sports or have intercourse after 6 weeks. Follow-up visits are scheduled after 6 months in our outpatient clinic due to our study protocol.

For the postoperative medical treatment of endometriosis, combined oral contraceptive, a GnRH agonist or Dienogest will be administered to all patients who do not desire pregnancy. Patients desiring pregnancy will either be advised to attempt spontaneous conception or will be sent to our in-house ART department depending on their age, disease extent, preoperative AMH levels and male factors.

Data collection At baseline, the following data will be collected: demographics and medical history data (age, body mass index, parity, menopausal and hormone therapy status, current smoking, previous adnexal surgery, and medical comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, connective tissue disorders)). Previous endometriosis-specific treatments and responses will be assessed. Patients will be asked to complete the Endometriosis Health Profile (EHP) EHP-30 25. A gynecological examination will be performed at each visit. Ovarian reserve will be evaluated using antral follicle count (AFC), anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, and ovarian volume.

Preferentially, LH and FSH will be evaluated in the first 2 to 5 days of the menstrual cycle.

The patients will be asked to rate their satisfaction with the appearance of their scars on a 10-point Likert scale (with 1 being very unsatisfied and 10 being very satisfied).