Intestinal Perforation due to Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis during Pregnancy: Case Report

Abstract

We report the case of a 33 year-old woman who complained of severe dysmenorrhea since menarche. From 2003 to 2009, she underwent 4 laparoscopies for the treatment of pain associated with endometriosis. After all four interventions, the pain recurred despite the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues and the insertion of a levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS). Finally, a colonoscopy performed in 2010 revealed rectosigmoid stenosis probably due to extrinsic compression. The patient was advised to get pregnant before treating the intestinal lesion. Spontaneous pregnancy occurred soon after LNG-IUS removal in 2011. In the 33rd week of pregnancy, the patient started to feel severe abdominal pain. No fever or sings of pelviperitonitis were present, but as the pain worsened, a cesarean section was performed, with the delivery of a premature healthy male, and an intestinal rupture was identified. Severe peritoneal infection and sepsis ensued. A colostomy was performed, and the patient recovered after eight days in intensive care. Three months later, the colostomy was closed, and a new LNG-IUS was inserted. The patient then came to be treated by our multidisciplinary endometriosis team. The diagnostic evaluation revealed the presence of intestinal lesions with extrinsic compression of the rectum. She then underwent a laparoscopic excision of the endometriotic lesions, including an ovarian endometrioma, adhesiolysis and segmental colectomy in 2014. She is now fully recovered and planning a new pregnancy. A transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) performed six months after surgery showed signs of pelvic adhesions, but no endometriotic lesions.

Resumo

Relatamos o caso de uma mulher de 33 anos que apresentava de dismenorreia grave desde a menarca. Entre 2003 e 2009, a paciente foi submetida a quatro laparoscopias para o tratamento de dor associada à endometriose. A dor persistiu apos as 4 cirurgias apesar do uso de análogos do hormônio de liberação de gonadotropina (GnRH) e da inserção de um sistema intrauterino de levonorgestrel (SIU-LNG). Finalmente, uma colonoscopia realizada em 2010 revelou estenose rectosigmoide, provavelmente devido à compressão extrínseca. A paciente foi aconselhada a engravidar antes de tratar a lesão intestinal. A gravidez espontânea ocorreu logo após a remoção de LNG-IUS em 2011. Na 33ª semana de gestação, a paciente começou a sentir dor abdominal intensa, sem febre ou sinais de peritonite. Como a dor piorou consideravelmente, a paciente foi submetida à cesariana com nascimento prematuro de um menino saudável. Durante a cesárea foi identificado rotura intestinal com peritonite grave e sepse. Uma colostomia foi realizada, e a paciente admitida no centro de terapia intensiva por 8 dais. A colostomia foi fechada e um novo SIU-LNG inserido. A paciente passou a ser tratada pela nossa equipe multidisciplinar de endometriose. A avaliação diagnóstica revelou a presença de lesões intestinais com compressão extrínseca do reto. Foi então submetida a uma excisão laparoscópica das lesões endometrióticas, incluindo um endometrioma ovariano, adesiólise e colectomia segmentar em 2014. Ela está agora totalmente recuperada e planeja nova gravidez. Uma ultrassonografia transvaginal (TVUS) realizada seis meses após a cirurgia revelou sinais de aderências pélvicas sem lesões de endometriose.

Keywords

deep infiltrating endometriosis - intestinal endometriosis - intestinal rupture - pregnancy complications

Palavras-Chave

endometriose infiltrativa profunda - endometriose intestinal - rotura intestinal - complicações na gravidez

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