Complications of surgery for endometriosis

Complications of laparoscopic surgery and laparotomies for endometriosis include:

  • Sore throat due to respirator/trachesotomy for general anesthesia
  • Shoulder pain for several days
  • Pains from the surgical scars
  • General malaise for a day or two.

Other complications are rare but more significant and include:

  • Damage to the bowel or urinary tract
  • Bleeding into the stomach
  • Adhesions between the abdominal organs (can cause pain and infertility)
  • Venous thrombosis in the feet and pulmonary embolism
  • Abdominal infection
  • After surgery, it is sometimes necessary to give hormone therapy to suppress ovarian activity, in order to prevent re-creation of the cysts. The treatment should continue as long as there is menstruation or no pregnancy.