Short term outcomes of endometriosis surgery in Ontario: a population‐based cohort study

Introduction — Our objective was to compare the short‐term outcomes by type of surgical management of endometriosis in Ontario, Canada and to characterize the population of women undergoing surgical management of endometriosis.

Material and Methods — We conducted a population‐based cohort study including women aged 18‐50 undergoing same day or inpatient surgery for endometriosis from April 1, 2002 through March 31, 2018. Surgery was classified as minimally invasive hysterectomy (MIH), total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) or minor or major conservative (uterine preserving). Outcomes examined included length of stay, intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, emergency department visits, ambulatory care visits, and readmission. We estimated the relative risk of these outcomes in minor, major conservative surgery and TAH versus MIH adjusted for age, income quintile, parity, and comorbidities.

Results — A total of 85,605 patients underwent surgery, 12.9% MIH, 22.1% TAH, 36.3% major and 28.6% minor conservative. The mean age at index surgery was 37.6 ±7.7 years. Prior to surgery, 70.6% of patients had visited a physician for pain at least once (64.7% MIH, 69.5% TAH, 71.1% major and 73.4% minor conservative) and 23.5% of patients had sought infertility consultation (5.7% MIH, 6.6% TAH, 29.3% major and 37.1% minor conservative). The overall risk of intraoperative and postoperative complications was 1.5% and 4.7%, respectively. In adjusted models, compared to those undergoing minor conservative surgery, those having major conservative surgery were 1.77 (95% CI: 1.49 ‐ 2.11) times as likely to experience an intraoperative complications, those having MIH and TAH were 2.55 (95% CI: 2.08 ‐ 3.13) and 2.34 (95% CI: 1.93 ‐ 2.82) times as likely to do so, respectively. Similarly, compared to those undergoing minor conservative surgery, those having major conservative surgery were 2.60 (95% CI: 2.30, 2.93) times as likely to experience any postoperative complication, those having MIH and TAH were 4.69 (95% CI: 4.11‐ 5.36) and 5.38 (95% CI: 4.76 ‐ 6.09) times as likely to do so, respectively.

Conclusions — Approximately one‐third of patients undergoing surgical management for endometriosis in Ontario between 2002 and 2018 had a hysterectomy. Overall, complications following surgery were low, and dependent on extent of surgery. These results should help inform preoperative counseling for patients and health policy development for providers.