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The article presents an overview of immunological factors and their role in the genesis and development of endometriosis, with emphasis on inflammatory cytokines and growth and adhesion factors. Although retrograde menstruation is a common phenomenon among women of reproductive age, not all women with retrograde menstruation suffer the disease. Development of endometriosis seems to be a complex process, facilitated by several factors, including quantity and quality of endometrial cells in peritoneal fluid (PF), increased inflammatory activity in PF, increased endometrial-peritoneal adhesion and angiogenesis, reduced immune surveillance and clearance of endometrial cells, and increased production of autoantibodies against endometrial cells. Potential biomarkers like cytokines and autoantibodies, upregulated during development of endometriosis, seem useful in the development of a non-surgical diagnostic tool. In this review work, the immune role in endometriosis is examined through the role of immunological factors in the genesis and development of the disease. Furthermore, it could be concluded that, although endometriosis can be treated using hormonal suppression, there is a need today for non-hormonal drugs, probably to modulate immune function, in order to confront the disease and alleviate pain or infertility without inhibition of ovulation.

Background: Recurrences have been a significant problem following hernia repair. Prosthetic materials have been increasingly used in hernia repair to prevent recurrences. Their use has been associated with several advantages, such as less postoperative pain, rapid recovery, low recurrence rates.

Endometriosis is the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue that can respond to ovarian hormonal stimulation. Although it is uncommon, extrapelvic endometriosis can form a discrete mass known as an abdominal wall endometrioma. Endometriomas are thought to be caused by transfer of endometrial cells into a surgical wound, most often after a cesarean delivery. Endometriomas are diagnosed via ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration. Treatment options can be medical, but surgical excision is the treatment of choice. Perioperative nursing care includes patient teaching, taking steps to prevent surgical site infection and inadvertent hypothermia, ensuring availability of supplies (eg, the graft for abdominal wall repair if needed), and postoperative pain management.

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Anastomotic stricture is a severe complication of colorectal anastomoses. Although dilatation is the treatment of choice for low-grade stenoses, surgery may be required for patients with high-grade stenoses or when dilatations fail. Surgical repair of colorectal anastomoses is a challenge for the surgeon. The transanal circular stapler technique is a simple and effective method for the repair of stenoses of low colorectal anastomoses, which avoids extensive tissue dissection and achieves excellent long-term results. We present 2 patients successfully treated by this technique [in one, the combined (transanal plus transabdominal) approach was used] and the relevant literature is briefly reviewed.

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