Cjg. Sutton et al., LASER LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY IN THE TREATMENT OF OVARIAN ENDOMETRIOMAS, The Journal of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, 4(3), 1997, pp. 319-323
Study Objective. To assess the efficacy of laser laparoscopic photocoa
gulation of endometriomas (2-18 cm) In patients with pain, infertility
, or a combination of the two. Design. Retrospective review of all pat
ients with endometriomas from June 1, 1983, to December 31, 1993. Sett
ing. Department of gynecology and obstetrics at a district general hos
pital and national training center in minimal access surgery. Patients
. One hundred sixty-five women with large endometriomas present at the
time of laser laparoscopy. Interventions. Carbon dioxide laser or pot
assium-titanyl-phosphate laser laparoscopic surgery. Measurements and
Main Results. Ninety (74%) of 122 patients reported improvement or res
olution of pain; and 30 of 66 achieved a pregnancy, for a cumulative c
onception rate of 45%. Conclusion. Laser laparoscopy is a practical, s
afe, and effective technique for the management of large ovarian endom
etriomas.