LASER LAPAROSCOPY VERSUS LAPAROTOMY IN THE TREATMENT OF INFERTILITY PATIENTS WITH SEVERE ENDOMETRIOSIS

The best pregnancy rates reported in the literature for infertility patients with severe pelvic endometriosis (stage IV) have been attributed to surgical management. In the last few years, improved endoscopic instruments have allowed gynecologists to treat difficult conditions with the CO2 laser via laparoscopy, with good results. To assess the usefulness of the CO2 laser via laparoscopy in treating severe pelvic endometriosis, two groups of patients were studied. Thirteen patients were treated by laparotomy (group I) and 11 patients by laparoscopy (group II). Seven achieved pregnancy in group I (53.8%), and pregnancy occurred in 6 patients in group II (54.5%). This study suggests that the management of severe pelvic endometriosis in infertility patients via laparoscopy seems to yield similar pregnancy rates to those treated with laparotomy, with the advantages of faster recovery and fewer hospitalization days for those undergoing laparoscopic surgery. (J GYNECOL SURG 6:179, 1990) © 1990, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. All rights reserved.