Due to the difficult nature of Endometriosis it is important to understand that surgery does carry risks. These include:

1. The risk of putting a laparoscope in the abdomen. Bowel or a major blood vessel can be damaged at laparoscopic entry. The risk of this is 1-3 cases/1000.
2. Other organs in the pelvis and abdomen can be damaged as the endometriosis is removed. This includes the bowel, the bladder, nerves and blood vessels and the ureter (a tube which connects the kidney to the bladder). If such damage does occur prompt repair will usually solve the problem. Rarely, damaged bowel may need resection or very rarely, a colostomy and bag. A catheter or tubes may need to stay in the bladder or ureter if these organs are damaged. The risk of inadvertent organ damage is less than 1:100 cases.
3. Adhesions can form as the result of surgery, especially with the inflammation of endometriosis. Every attempt is made to minimize this but scarring can still occur.
4. Infection is a risk of surgery. Major cases will usually have antibiotic cover. Infective complications are uncommon.
5. Bleeding can occur during or after surgery. Major cases of endometriosis almost never need blood transfusions but these may occur.
6. Clots can form in veins of the legs or pelvis and travel to the lungs causing a pulmonary embolism. The risk of this is about 1:400 cases.

Read on - Hormonal (Drug) Therapy