| Research question | Is laparoscopic treatment of peritoneal disease in minimal and mild endometriosis cost-effective for the management of suspected endometriosis-associated pain? |
|---|---|
| Importance to ‘patients’ or the population | This is important as all surgery carries with it a potential morbidity and mortality. Thus any surgical interventions needs to have a likelihood of relief of symptoms to be clinically justified. |
| Relevance to NICE guidance | The answer to this question has not been able to be determined from the current literature available. The impact of surgery on this subset of women with endometriosis needs to be known so that the cost-effectiveness of surgery can be determined. |
| Relevance to the NHS | Pain associated with endometriosis costs the NHS significant amounts of money. In addition surgical time and bed usage are limited resources so that cost-effective utilisation is essential. |
| National priorities | This is a large group of women who require evidence based care. |
| Current evidence base | Not available regards this group in relation to pain outcomes. |
| Equality | A study population should include the full age spectrum of women who suffer endometriosis associated pain. Adolescents as well as adults will need to be studied. |
| Feasibility | This has been done in relation to fertility outcomes and hence the same research model could be adopted. |
| Other comments | Not applicable |
From: 11, Management strategies
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