Table 1 Results from the main studies with radical surgical techniques on rectovaginal endometriosis

Possover et al. [13]

34

16

Laparoscopic colorectal resection

CA: 6.6%

PR: 53% (8/15)

No

Redwine and Wright [40]

84

55

Laparoscopic colorectal resection

ID: 20%

Dysmenorrhoea: 68%, Dyspareunia: 66%, Pelvic pain: 78%

PR: 43% (12/28), SP: 25%, ART: 18%

Darai et al. [44, 45]

40

24

Laparoscopic colorectal resection

RVF: 7.5%, PA: 2.5%, BD: 17.5%, ID: 37.5%

Dysmenorrhoea: 97%, Dyspareunia: 82%, Pelvic pain: 100%

PR: 45.5% (10/22), SP: 32%, ART: 13%

Thomassin et al. [43]

27

15

Laparoscopic colorectal resection

BD: 7.5%, ID: 15%

Dysmenorrhoea: 96%, Dyspareunia: 75%, Pelvic pain: 100%, Dyschezia: 95%

SP: 15% (4/27)

Fleisch et al. [46]

23

45

Laparoscopic/laparotomic colorectal resection

CA: 4%

Global: 91.3%

PR: 23.5% (4/17), SP: 17.5%, ART: 6%

Symptoms: 34.8%

Keckstein and Weisinger [25]

142

Laparoscopic rectal segmentary resection

CA: 6%

Dyspareunia: 87%, Pelvic pain: 96%, Dyschezia: 88%

PR: 50% (47/95)

Seracchioli et al. [51]

22

42

Laparoscopic colorectal resection

CA: 4.5%, BD: 14%

Dysmenorrhoea: 86%, Dyspareunia: 78%, Pelvic pain: 50%, Dyschezia: 100%

No

Ford et al. [42]

60

12

Laparoscopic (n = 48) or laparotomic (n = 12) colorectal resection

CA: 3.3%

Global: 86%

Nodules: 13%

Dubernard et al. [47]

58

22

Laparoscopic colorectal resection

RVF: 10.3%, PA: 2%

Dysmenorrhoea: 92%, Dyspareunia: 88%, Pelvic pain: 80%, Dyschezia: 78%

Minelli et al. [27]

357

20

Laparoscopic colorectal resection

RVF: 3.9%, CA: 3.1%, BD: 9.5%

Global: 93.7%

PR: 41.6% (47/113), SP: 9%, ART: 32.6%

Symptoms: 6.3%, Nodules: 3.5%

Dousset et al. [5]

100

60

Laparotomic subtotal (n = 84) or total (n = 16) rectal excision

RVF: 4%, CA: 2%, BD: 16%, ID: 85%

Global: 94%

No