This lecture focuses on complications in laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis. First, the expert addresses how to define complications. Surgeons sometimes need to remove part of the adjacent structures such as bowel, vagina and ureter, which should be included in the surgery – to achieve a complete excision of the disease. Complications can always occur and the most important thing to be borne in mind is to know how to deal with them by laparoscopy.
Complications may include adhesions, bowel, ureter and vascular injuries. The rate of complications in rectal shaving ranges from 0.2 to 1.4%. In case of discoid bowel resection, the morbidity rate published in the literature is 13%. Regarding rectal segmental resection, the rate of complications in laparoscopy (4.25%) is similar to that of laparotomy (4.5%). The rate of rectovaginal fistula in case of rectal shaving is 8.3%, and in rectal segmental resection 3.1%, which is not associated with the distance between the anastomosis and the rectum. Voiding problems are frequent and the incidence of urinary retention ranges from 1 to 29% and depends on the interval of observation. Finally, in case of ureteral endometriosis, a double J catheter should be always placed in order to decrease the risk of ureteral fistula.