Conservative surgical management of endometriosis with CO2 laser vs. surgical management with CO2 laser videolaparoscopy

Abstract

Recent advances in infertility surgery have allowed gynecological surgeons to treat an increasing number of diseases of reproductive organs by using lasers in open surgery or employing the laparoscope. This article reviews the cases of 122 endometriosis patients, 44 of whom (with disease severity ranging from moderate to extensive) were treated with conservative surgery and the CO2 laser, and 78 of whom (with disease severity ranging from mild to extensive) were treated using the CO2 laparoscope with video camera augmentation (video-laser copy). Twenty-three (53.1%) women in the first group and 35 (42.8%) in the second group became pregnant within 5-6 months of surgery. Of the first group, 38 patients and 54 of the second group had complained of pelvic pain, which was relieved after surgery in 35 (92.2%) and 48 (88.8%) cases, respectively. Statistical analysis demonstrated that both procedures were equally efficacious in treating endometriosis.