Endometriosis Above the Belt: A Life-Changing Conversation With Dr. Francesco Di Chiara

The First Podcast
The First Podcast
Endometriosis Above the Belt: A Life-Changing Conversation With Dr. Francesco Di Chiara
Loading
/

Send us a text with a question or thought on this episode ( We cannot replay from this link)

Dr. Francesco Di Chiara, a leading consultant thoracic surgeon at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, shares his expertise on thoracic endometriosis – when endometriosis affects the chest cavity, diaphragm and lungs. He illuminates the challenges patients face with this often-overlooked manifestation of endometriosis that can cause collapsed lungs, shoulder pain, and breathing difficulties.

• Thoracic endometriosis causes symptoms including pneumothorax (collapsed lung), shoulder pain, hemoptysis (coughing blood), effusions and hemothorax
• 90% of patients with thoracic endometriosis first see orthopedic surgeons for shoulder pain before correct diagnosis
• Symptoms are often “self-limiting” which leads to medical dismissal since they temporarily resolve after each cycle
• Imaging challenges include MRI movement artifacts and that lesions are often thinner than MRI resolution capabilities
• Surgical excision involves a thoracoscopic or robotic approach with most complex procedures involving the diaphragm
• Diaphragmatic surgery requires special consideration for patients planning pregnancy due to added strain on surgically repaired tissues
• Multi-disciplinary care is crucial with thoracic surgeons involved early rather than being called in only after discovery during gynecological surgery
• Dr. Di Chiara classifies thoracic endometriosis lesions in a color spectrum from pink (superficial) to white (scarred) with purple and brown in between
• Thoracic surgeons with endometriosis expertise are rare – patients should seek high-volume centers with established multidisciplinary teams

If you suspect thoracic endometriosis, seek out high-volume endometriosis centers that work directly with thoracic surgeons, and insist on meeting your entire surgical team before committing to treatment.

Support the show

Website endobattery.com

Instagram: EndoBattery

Introduction to Thoracic Endometriosis

Speaker 1
0:00

Do

you

sometimes

have

a

hard

time

breathing
,

especially

during

your

cycle
,

or

do

you

have

that

right

shoulder

pain

that

just

won't

go

away
?

Maybe

your

lung

collapses

during

your

cycle

and

no

one

seems

to

think

it's

that

big

of

a

deal
,

or

they

just

can't

figure

it

out
.

Well
,

stick

around
,

because

Dr

Francesco

Di

Chiara

is

here

to

explain

what

you

could

potentially

have
.

Have

you

ever

heard

of

cardiothoracic

endometriosis
,

or

extra

pelvic

endometriosis

or

extra

pelvic

endometriosis
?

Or

maybe

you've

heard

about

diaphragmatic

endometriosis
?

He's

here

to

address

these
,

the

symptoms

and

how

he

can

address

them
.

Stick

around
.

Speaker 1
0:37

Welcome

to

EndoBattery
,

where

I

share

my

journey

with

endometriosis

and

chronic

illness
,

while

learning

and

growing

along

the

way
.

This

podcast

is

not

a

substitute

for

medical

advice
,

but

a

supportive

space

to

provide

community

and

valuable

information

so

you

never

have

to

face

this

journey

alone
.

We

embrace

a

range

of

perspectives

that

may

not

always

align

with

our

own
,

believing

that

open

dialogue

helps

us

grow

and

gain

new

tools
.

Join

me

as

I

share

stories

of

strength
,

resilience

and

hope
,

from

personal

experiences

to

expert

insights
.

I'm

your

host
,

alana
,

and

this

is

Endobattery

charging

our

lives

when

endometriosis

drains

us
.

Welcome

back

to

Endobattery
.

Grab

your

cup

of

coffee

or

your

cup

of

tea

and

join

me

at

the

table

Today
.

Speaker 1
1:22

I

am

joined

at

the

table

by

my

guest
,

dr

Francesco

Di

Chiara
,

a

leading

consultant

thoracic

surgeon

at

the

John

Radcliffe

Hospital

in

Oxford

and

a

true

pioneer

in

minimally

invasive

chest

surgery
.

Renowned

internationally

for

developing

and

refining

cutting

edge

techniques
,

including

groundbreaking

single

incision

procedure

for

thoracic

outlet

syndrome
,

dr

Di

Chiara

is

transforming

the

way

we

approach

complex

thoracic

conditions
.

With

deep

expertise

in

lung

cancer
,

chest

wall

trauma

and

disorders

like

thoracic

endometriosis
,

he's

not

only

a

gifted

surgeon
,

but

also

a

passionate

educator

and

an

innovator
.

I

am

thrilled

to

be

diving

into

this

conversation

with

someone

who

is

shaping

the

future

for

thoracic

endometriosis
.

Please

help

me

in

welcoming

Dr

Francesco

Di

Chiara
.

Thank

you

so

much
,

dr

Di

Chiara
.

I'm

so

thrilled

that

you

sat

down

with

me

today
.

We

met

at

the

summit

and

it

was

one

of

those

moments

where

I

was

just

enthralled

by

everything

that

you

were

talking

about
,

so

I'm

honored

that

you

sat

down

with

me

at

the

table

today
.

Speaker 2
2:26

Well
,

thanks

for

your

invite
.

It's

very

kind

and

I'm

eager

to

hear

the

questions

you

gathered
,

and

thanks

so

much

for

inviting

me
.

Speaker 1
2:37

Of

course
,

it's

just

an

honor

for

me
.

For

anyone

that

is

unfamiliar
,

what

does

cardiothoracic

surgeon

typically

entail
,

or

what

is

cardiothoracic

in

general
,

and

how

does

it

relate

to

endometriosis
?

Speaker 2
2:53

So

cardiothoracic

is

a

medical

term

for

heart

and

lungs

or

heart

and

chest
.

So

it

usually

according

to

when

a

person

is

studying

and

specializing
.

For

example
,

in

North

America

it's

normally

a

general

surgery

that

develops

a

skill

in

cardiac

and

thoracic

surgery
.

We'll

see

in

other

parts

of

the

world
,

for

example

Northern

Europe
,

that

it

will

be

cardiothoracic

a

standalone

specialty
.

But

it

deals

with

the

diseases

of

the

heart
,

revascularization

or

disease

of

the

chest
,

most

commonly

lung

cancer

and

other

malignancies

of

the

chest
.

Speaker 1
3:39

How

does

that

relate

to

endometriosis
?

Because

not

a

lot

of

people

are

very

familiar

with

that
,

Even

in

the

medical

industry

they

kind

of

are

unfamiliar

with

the

fact

that

endometriosis

can

happen

in

the

heart
,

in

the

lungs
,

in

the

diaphragm
.

Speaker 2
3:56

So

yeah
,

that's

a

very

good

question
.

The

reality

is

that

endometriosis

is

a

systemic

disease
,

can

go

anywhere

in

the

body
.

It's

been

found

in

every

organ
,

including

the

brain
,

the

eye
,

and

the

most

common

extra-thoracic
,

extra-pelvic

location

is

the

diaphragm
.

So

the

thoracic

surgeon

historically

has

been

involved

by

gynecologists

that

advocated

for

excision
,

but

many

times

it

was

an

ad

hoc

involvement

and

often

also

involved

during

the

operation
.

So

that

does

make

it

quite

difficult

for

the

surgeons

and

for

the

patients

to

be

involved

during

the

operation

because

there

was

a

surprise

at

diaphragmatic

disease
.

Speaker 1
4:41

How

did
?

Was

it

a

patient
?

Was

it

something

that

you

were

seeing

commonly
?

Because

I'm

sure

that

wasn't

something

that

you

thought

of

when

you

first

went

to

medical

school
.

I'm

going

to

do

endometriosis

surgery
,

you

know
,

on

the

heart
.

Speaker 2
4:53

Conversely

to

the

idea

that

it

happened

like

this
.

So

I

was

preparing

my

final

board

exam

and

we

were

studying
,

actually
,

an

American

book

called

Shields

it's

got

these

two

big

volumes

on

this

and

it

was

this

huge

chapter

about

plural

diseases
,

plural

conditions
,

and

then

benign

and

malignant
.

And

then

there

was

a

big

chapter

on

the

forex

and

then

in

this

chapter

it

was

analyzing

every

little

aspect

of

minute

detail

there

was

this

little

paragraph

literally

like

this
,

saying

that

individual

female

during

menstruation

may

experience

hemothorax
.

Full

stop
,

no

reference
,

no

further

explanation
.

And

I

thought

to

myself

this

is

amazing
.

How

can

I

link

a

hormonal

change

to

a

collapsed

lung
?

It

seems

so

interesting
.

How

can

I

link
,

like
,

a

hormonal

change

to

collapsed

lung
?

It

seems

so

interesting
.

And

the

more

I

was

trying

to

find

information

and

interest
,

the

least

I

found
.

And

actually

I

found

some

resistance

from

my

colleagues

onto

the

idea

of

going

across

your

specialty
.

Often

karyothoracic

is

a

bit

of

a

conservative

speciality

and

collaboration

is

not

always

that

easy
.

Speaker 1
6:10

Yeah
,

so

when

you

talk

pneumothorax
,

can

you

explain

that

a

little

bit
?

And

that's

why

that

kind

of

led

you

into

thinking

more

about

the

cardiothoracic

endometriosis
.

Speaker 2
6:21

Yes
,

so

a

pneumothorax

is

a

collapsed

lung

and

is

a

common

presentation

of

thoracic

endometriosis
.

The

collapsed

lung

can

be

partial

or

complete
,

and

one

of

the

main

myth

busters

that

I

often

explain

is

that

the

typical

thoracic

endometriosis

patients

are

between

15

and

50

years

old
,

will

not

be

extremely

breathless

as

often

like

Google

might

suggest

when

you're

looking

for

the

symptoms
,

because

they

say

our

pneumothorax

is

intense

breathlessness
.

It's

not

true
.

The

patients

can

have

a

significant

pneumothorax

and

continue

to

go
.

Especially

the

endometriosis

patients

is

a

subgroup

of

individuals

that

have

been

coping

with

pain

and

discomfort

since

age

12
,

11
,

when

they

have

the

first

menses
,

so

they're

actually

very

resilient

to

pain

and

discomfort

in

the

chest
.

Speaker 2
7:21

The

other

common

symptom

is

pain

in

the

shoulder
,

which

is

another

very

big

branch

of

elements

that

is

often

confused
.

I

would

say

that

I

don't

have

the

full

statistic
,

but

I

would

say

that

probably

90%

of

my

patients

have

seen

either

a

chiropractor

or

an

orthopedic

surgeon

before

seeing

me
,

because

of

pain

in

the

shoulder

is

considered
,

you

know
,

to

go

see

somebody

fall

on

the

shoulder
.

The

pain

in

the

shoulder

is

actually

related

to

the

phrenic

nerve
,

which

is

the

nerve

that

controls

the

diaphragm
.

The

hemidiaphragm

has

these

two

big

muscles

that

control

the

breathing

at

the

bottom

of

our

chest
,

and

so

when

you

have

an

irritation

or

some

trouble

of

the

phrenic

nerve
,

the

pain

is

actually

perceived

up

here

and

in

the

neck
.

So

these

are

the

two

main

symptoms
,

and

there's

a

lot

of

other

things

that

can

happen
.

I

would

say

collapsed

lung

and

pain
,

shoulder

pain

and

probably

the

commonest
.

Speaker 1
8:21

Are

there

more

symptoms

that

kind

of

relate

to

that
?

Maybe

that

get

misinterpreted

as

other

conditions

that

people

would

not

even

consider

as

endometriosis
?

Speaker 2
8:33

The

related

thoracic

endometriosis
.

Yes
,

there

is

hemoptysis
,

which

is

coughing

up

blood
,

which

is

one

of

the

rarest

and

most

difficult

to

diagnose
,

and

when

it

comes

to

thoracic

endo
,

rarity

often

for

me

means

that

it's

not

that

rare
,

it's

just

trickier

to

diagnose
.

Speaker 1
8:51

Right
.

Speaker 2
8:51

Because

when

it

comes

to

hemoptysis

you

can

be

confused

with

disease
,

with

reflux
,

with

anything

Right
,

and

so

the

patient

should

keep

a

diary
.

And

the

hemoptysis

does

not

present

Understanding Cardiothoracic Surgery

Speaker 2
9:04

with

every

menstruation
,

so

it's

just

trickier

to

diagnose
.

And

then

there

is

also

a

presentation

with

hemothorax
,

which

is

blood

in

the

chest
,

and

again
,

extremely

rarely

this

is

a

dramatic

hemothorax
.

Until

they

get

to

the

OR

or

to

the

ITU
,

it

is

a

modest

hemothorax
,

causing

a

lot

of

irritation
,

a

lot

of

discomfort

and

some

effusions

which

is

fluid

filling

up

that

space

at

the

bottom

of

the

chest
.

These

are

quite

tricky

to

diagnose

and

there

are

lots

of

investigations

and

they're

often

dismissed

because

they're

self-limiting
.

Speaker 2
9:48

So

the

concept

of

self-limiting

symptom

is

probably

the

biggest

barrier

in

diagnosing

patients

with

thoracic

endometriosis
.

Doctors

are

trained

since

their

infancy

of

their

training

that

any

symptoms

or

any

sign

that

is

self-limited

that

basically

resolves

itself
,

or

any

sign

that

is

self-limited

that

basically

resolves

itself

is

not

something

that

we

need

to

worry

about
.

So

let's

say

that

a

patient

comes

to

see

you

and

he

has

a

little

bit

of

a

fusion
,

a

bit

of

fluid

in

the

chest
,

and

then

you

say
,

well
,

a

bit

concerning

fluid

in

the

chest

can

be

even

a

sign

of

malignancy
.

Let's

repeat

it

an

extra

week

and

then

a

week

later

the

infusion

is

gone

and

the

family

doctor

will

feel

rightfully

in

his

own

mind

to

reassure

the

patient

and

say
,

okay
,

it

was

nothing
,

because

if

the

infusion

had

gone

by

itself

then

it

was

nothing
,

nothing

to

worry

about

anyway
,

and

most

of

the

synthet

drasticriosis

are

self-limiting
.

Speaker 1
10:48

Do

you

find

that

that

causes

even

more

of

a

delay

in

diagnosis
,

because

patients

kind

of

give

up
,

they

just

live

with

it
?

Speaker 2
10:52

Oh

yeah
,

so

that's

one

of

the

things

I

often

say

when

I'm

talking

about

thoracic

endometriosis
.

Speaker 2
11:00

The

most

knowledgeable

and

prepared

patient

I've

ever

seen

comes

with

a

folder

called

the

chapters

of

their

history
,

and

they

know

everything

about

it
.

And

if

you

go

through

their

history
,

they've

been

fighting

for

10

years

and

they

had

their

family's

support
,

their

financial

means
,

see

many

doctors

and

they

didn't

give

up

on

frustration
.

So

that

actually

I

don't

find

it

reassuring
.

I

find

it

very

concerning

because

that

gives

me

the

idea

of

the

thousands

and

thousands

of

patients

they

gave

up
,

maybe

year

two
,

year
,

five
,

year
,

seven

or

something

else

happened

in

their

life
,

another

health

problem

or

something

else
,

and

I'm

seeing

only

the

one

that

managed

to

go

through

10
,

15

years

of

various

attempts
.

And

then

obviously

they

go

through

phases

in

which

they

feel

convinced

that

they

probably

it's

all

in

my

head

and

then

so

it's

not

in

my

head
,

and

then

you

know

I

can't

be
,

and

then

they

start

fighting

again

to

find

someone
.

But

it's

a

very

long

journey

and

so

I

think

we

are

missing

out
.

I

don't

know

how

many
.

Speaker 1
12:08

And

that

is

only

you

know
,

those

that

can

afford

to

continue

that

process
.

A

lot

of

people

in

this

process

because

this

disease

is

so

expensive
,

don't

have

the

means
.

Don't

have

the

means

to

continue

that

trajectory
.

So

that

makes

it

even

a

little

bit

more

challenging
,

I

would

assume
,

for

a

lot

of

those

patients
.

Speaker 2
12:27

Yeah
,

yeah
.

And

sometimes

it's

even

more

heartbreaking

because

they

might

have

the

means

finally

to

find

a

specialist

that

knows

about

drastic

endo

and

have

the

suspicion
,

but

then

to

get

an

operation

might

be

too

expensive

and

that's

very

difficult

sometimes
.

Speaker 1
12:46

Is

there

imaging

that

can

help

detect

thoracic

endometriosis
,

or

is
?

That

similar

to

the

pelvis
,

where

it's

hard
.

Speaker 2
12:55

It's

similar

to

the

pelvis
,

it

probably

was
.

So

the

best

investigation

that

we

have

now

is

the

same
,

is

MRI

with

specific

endometriosis

protocol

and

with

T1

fat

saturated

and

so

on
.

So

there

are

two

main

barriers

for

diagnosis
.

One

is

the

training

of

radiologists
,

which

I

often

discuss

with

because

I

think

they

want

to

find

the

reassuring

finding

of

the

round

endometrioma
,

which

is

a

solid
,

definite

lesion

of

the

round

endometrial
.

Speaker 2
13:23

One
,

which

is

a

solid
,

definite

lesion
,

is

almost

never

there

in

the

chest

and

they're

often

very

thin

and

widespread

lesions
,

the

nooks

and

crannies

of

the

chest
.

And

the

second

main

barrier

is

that

the

lesions

are

thin

and

below

the

resolution

of

the

MRI
.

And

I

can

add

a

third

barrier

to

the

diagnosis

the

most

common

area

where

the

endometriosis

in

the

chest

is

present

is

the

diaphragm
,

which

is

the

area

where

there

are

more

movement

artifacts
,

because

MRI

is

not

a

breath-hold

investigation
.

So

during

an

MRI

we

don't

hold

our

breath

for

30

minutes
,

obviously
,

so

we

keep

breathing

and

the

acquisition
,

although

filtered

through

algorithms

and

computer

system
,

is

still

a

bit

artifact
,

movement

artifacts
.

So

what

you

should

have

the

highest

resolution

is

actually

where

you

get

the

least

resolution
.

Speaker 1
14:18

Interesting
.

How

deep

can

these

lesions

go
,

though
?

I

mean

we're

talking

some

superficial
,

but

how

deep

can

they

go
?

Can
,

though

I

mean

we're

talking

some

superficial
,

but

how

deep

can

they

go
?

Can

they

go

into

the

lung
?

Can

they

go

even

deeper

than

that
?

Speaker 2
14:31

So

they

can

definitely

go

through

the

diaphragm

and

I'm

trying

to

work

together

to

build

a

classification

in

deep

infiltrative

and

diaphragmatic

disease

and

non-deep

infiltrative

diaphragmatic

disease
,

because

they

tend

to

present

with

different

colors

according

to

if

they

are

infiltrative

or

not
,

and

also

the

yastric

and

going

the

lung
.

I've

seen

anecdotal

cases

of

lung

endometriosis
.

I

was

at

least

lucky

enough
,

when

I

often

don't

see

any

cases

that

are

severe
,

but

certainly

I've

seen

in

the

prura
,

so

the

lining

of

the

lung
,

and

I've

seen

a

lot

of

deep

infiltrative

endometriosis

in

the

diaphragm

and

I

have

at

least

about

five
,

Symptoms and Diagnosis Challenges

Speaker 2
15:22

six

cases

of

very

suspicious

airway

endometriosis
.

But

it's

very

difficult

to

catch

because

it's

although

I've

done

bronchoscopy
,

a

camera

test

of

the

airway

it's

normally

located

very

peripherally

where

the

airway

is

so

thin

that

you

can't

fit

the

bronchoscope

in

even

using

a

thin

one
.

Speaker 1
15:42

Interesting
,

do

you
?

Okay

side

note

on

that
?

Maybe

this

is

curiosity

from

my

standpoint

when

you're

talking

about

that

For

those

people

who

they
.

For

myself

in

particular
,

I've

been

diagnosed

with

vocal

cord

dysfunction

and

it's

interesting

to

me

that

maybe

that's

not

always

vocal

cord

dysfunction
,

maybe

it's

something

more
.

Would

you

have

that

right

shoulder

pain

along

with

that

as

well
,

like

that

trouble

breathing
?

It's

getting

harder

type

of

thing
,

or

can

that
?

Happen

simultaneously

on

its

own
.

Speaker 2
16:16

I

think

that

an

individual

who

has

a

diagnosis

of

endometriosis

should

have

a

very

high

level

of

suspicion

for

symptoms

that

have

this

kind

of

pattern
,

in

which

they

tend

to

come

with

the

ovulation

period

and

then

they

fade

and

the

patient

gets

better

without

any

treatment
.

Speaker 2
16:34

Whatever

is

the

symptom

migraine
,

blurred

vision
,

change

in

the

voice
,

coughing

up

blood
,

change

in

the

performance
,

pain

in

the

shoulder
,

pain

in

the

diaphragm
,

pain

in

the

chest
,

all

these

symptoms

if

they

come

and

go

with

the

period
,

they

might

be

related

to

extra

pelvic

endo
.

I

think

we're

only

scratching

the

surface

in

these

years

of

what

is

the

true

diagnosis
.

I

have

patients

a

couple

of

them

with

this

migraine

and

since

we

know

that

a

catamenial

epilepsy

exists
,

I

wonder

also

if

it's

maybe

another

form

of

presentation

of

extra

pelvic

endometriosis
.

I

cannot

prove

it

because
,

again
,

mris

didn't

help
.

But

it's

very

interesting

also

because

we

know

that

the

patient
,

when

they

are

young
,

the

symptoms

tend

to

have

this

pattern

and

when

they

get

older

they

are

chronic

because

the

pain

can

escape
,

you

know
,

can

become

chronic

pain
.

You

know

the

pattern

of

chronic

pain

when

it's

prolonged

and

then

it's

always

there
.

But

at

least

initially

they

can

refer

a

very

good

history

of

having

a

pattern

of

these

symptoms

and

for

five

years

it

was

coming

and

going
,

and

then

with

full

resolution
.

Speaker 1
17:54

Yeah
,

it's

interesting
.

You

said

earlier

the

color

spectrum
.

You

have

this

brilliant

way

the

color

spectrum
,

the

rainbow
,

if

you

will
.

Speaker 2
18:06

Do

you
?

Speaker 1
18:07

want

to

explain

that

a

little

bit
,

just

because

I

think

that

it

would

help

a

lot

of

people

kind

of

understand

the

variations

of

this

disease
.

Speaker 2
18:14

So

it

is

my

very

own

classification

and

I've

noticed

that

there's

patterns

in

presentational

disease
.

On

the

lesion

they're

pink

and

sessile
.

That

seems

to

be

the

most

superficial
.

I

get

that

with

a

brown

cauliflower

shaped

ones

that

are

very

superficial

and

when

I

go

at

the

base

the

diaphragm

underneath

looks
,

or

the

pleura

looks
,

completely

fine
.

Instead

there

are

the

purple

which

are

hemocytinine-filled

Hemocytinine

is

like

a

fancy

name

for

old

blood

and

white
,

which

we

all

know

why

it's

scarred
.

Scar

is

always

the

end

stage

of

a

very

prolonged

inflammatory

process

in

our

body
.

So

the

idea

that

I

haven't

proven

yet

is

that

this

is

a

pathway

or

steps

to

get

to

the

final

scarring
.

Although

there

are

elements

supporting

my

theory

and

elements

not

supporting

it
,

I

am

still

thinking

that

it

shows

a

lot

of

elements

supporting

this

and

at

least

it

gives

some

way

to

approach

the

disease

systematically
,

systemically
,

in

a

way

that

we

know

what

to

do
.

Speaker 1
19:30

Right
.

I

mean
,

it's

similar

to

the

pelvis
,

right
?

There's

different

variations

of

the

disease

as

far

as

coloration

is

concerned
,

and

so

I

think

a

lot

of

times

that's

what's

missed
,

even

in

the

pelvic

region
.

A

lot

of

times

is

that

what

we're

taught

is

the

powder

burn

lesions
,

that's

the

endometriosis
,

but

it

comes

in

so

many

different
,

various

forms
,

and

if

you

don't

know

what

you're

looking

for
,

it's

often

going

to

be

missed

even

by

some

specialists
,

because

it

varies

for

everyone
.

So

I

think

it's

interesting

that

it's

similar

throughout

the

body
.

It's

not

just

into

the

pelvis
,

you

know
,

it's

all

the

way

up
,

and

I

think

that's

an

interesting

thing

for

us

to

know

as

patients

is

that

if

someone

says
,

no
,

you

don't

have

this
,

it's

worth

investigating

more

because

they

may

not

be

able

to

identify

it
.

Which

to

my

next

point

is

is

it

important

for

someone

that

is

an

excision

specialist

to

have

a

cardiothoracic

surgeon

be

able

to

do

these

surgeries
?

Speaker 2
20:35

Yeah
,

I

think

one

of

the

big

discussion

I

had

with

you

know
,

andrea

Vidali
,

which

I

started

collaborating

also

with

Martin

Hirsch
,

is

that

the

role

of

thoracic

surgeon

should

come

much

earlier

and

not
,

as

it

was

historically
,

that

often

or

sometimes

was

called

directly

in

the

OR

when

something

was

found

on

the

diaphragm
.

I

think

the

role

of

thoracic

surgeon

has

a

huge

impact

on

the

quality

of

life

for

the

patient

and

the

patient

has

the

right

to

speak

early

with

the

thoracic

surgeon

to

make

plans

ahead

to

you

know
,

potential

example

impact

on

quality

of

life

sacrificing

the

phrenic

nerve
,

plans

for

fertility

because

diaphragmatic

surgery

can

impact

pregnancy
.

There

are

elements

that

need

to

be

discussed

and

the

patient

should

have

a

consent

to

all

these

aspects
.

So

I

think

that

the

role

of

thoracic

surgeon

should

change

and

you

know

multidisciplinary

meeting

in

which

you

at

least

see

the

gynecologist

and

thoracic

surgeon

or
,

if

you

need

bowel

resection
,

the

gynecologist

and

the

colorectal

surgeon
.

So

I

think

only

meeting

the

lead

gynecologist

is

not

the

way

to

go

about

this

disease

in

the

future
.

Speaker 1
21:51

I

agree
.

I

think

everyone

has

a

place

in

that

room

to

give

the

patient

the

best

quality

care

that

they

can

and

the

best

outcome
.

Are

there

risks

associated

with

like

not

doing

surgery

and

not

catching

that
?

I
?

Speaker 2
22:07

mean

I'm

sure

there's

a

good

question
.

So

when

it

comes
,

for

example
,

to

pneumothorax
,

the

obvious

risks

in

leaving

the

disease
,

because

the

more

episodes

of

pneumothorax
,

the

more

the

inside

of

the

chest

becomes

scarred

and

oftentimes

the

lung

sort

of

tries

to

heal

on

its

own
.

But

it's

the

same

idea

of

a

fracture

left

untreated

the

bone

doesn't

really

heal

that

nicely
,

isn't

it
?

It

heals

all

in

a

funny

position
.

It's

the

same

thing

when

a

pneumothorax

tries

to

heal

on

its

own

inside

the

chest
,

somewhat

the

lung

comes

up
,

but

the

scarring

is

in

the

wrong

position

and

the

lung

is

Imaging Limitations and Disease Patterns

Speaker 2
22:48

in

an

awful

partially

expanded

way
,

which

then

opens

the

gates

to

a

lot

of

complications
.

Speaker 2
22:57

A

fusion

which

is

fluid
,

the

fluid

can

get

infected
,

becomes

an

empyema
,

or

repeated

pneumothoraces

can

break

the

adhesion

and

cause

pneumothorax
,

which

is

blood
.

So

there

are

risks
,

especially

in

the

repeated

pneumothoraces
.

When

it

comes

to

that

paracetamol
,

it

only

causes

pain
.

I

don't

think

you

can

underestimate

it
,

say
,

oh
,

it's

only

pain
,

because

it's

probably

the

thing

that

affects

the

quality

of

life

the

most
.

So

eating

pain
,

I

don't

think

it's

something

we

should

overlook
.

It

is

for

me

a

very

important

indication
.

Speaker 1
23:35

Yeah
,

and

I

think

what's

interesting

too

and

you

had

talked

about

this

before

is

pregnancy

in

that

as

well
.

Can

you

explain

that

a

little

bit

and

why

this

is

so

important

for

those

who

maybe
?

Speaker 2
23:49

are

struggling

with

fertility
.

Speaker 2
23:51

Yes
.

Well
,

when

it

comes

to

thoracic

endometriosis

and

diaphragmatic

endometriosis
,

so

operating

on

the

diaphragm
,

we

have

some

data

of

operating

on

the

diaphragm

and

then

pregnancy
,

but

these

are

not

specific

of

thoracic

endometriosis
.

These

are

for

another

type

of

diaphragmatic

surgery
.

So
,

when

it

comes

to

this

surgery

major

diaphragmatic

surgery

some

recommend

including

me

to

have

elective

C-sections

because

the

risk

of

delivering

the

child

in

a

natural

way

can

put

a

lot

of

strain

on

the

diaphragm
.

Now
,

by

general

terms
,

surgery

to

the

diaphragm

is

meant

to

be

solid

in

physiological

condition
.

Speaker 2
24:38

Pregnancy

is

a

situation

in

which

the

diaphragm

is

under

extreme

strain

and

this

can

disrupt

reconstruction
.

And

also
,

additionally
,

when

there

are

those

major

diaphragmatic

surgeries

in

which

the

phrenic

nerve

may

be

sacrificed
,

then

the

phrenic

nerve

is

not

working

and

the

diaphragm

rises
,

which

is

something

that

can

be

managed

when

the

patient

is

not

pregnant
.

When

the

patient

is

pregnant
,

the

intra-abdominal

pressure

rises

significantly

and

the

diaphragm
,

which

has

a

non-functioning

phrenic

nerve
,

can

have

a

lot

of

trouble

and

they

need

to

see

a

specialist
.

They

need

to

be

followed

up

closely

during

the

pregnancy
.

I

don't

think

I

don't

want

to

scare

people

off

about

being

pregnant
,

but

they

should

have

a

specialist

following

them

up

during

the

pregnancy
.

I

don't

think
.

I

don't

want

to

scare

people

off

about

being

pregnant
,

but

they

should

have

a

specialist

following

them

up

during

the

pregnancy

Because
,

if

this

is

not

happening
,

at

least

there

is

a

plan

to

deliver

the

baby

and

then

operate

on

the

mom
,

rather

than

be

all

a

surprise

and

maybe

her

being

very

unwell
,

very

breathless

and

in

trouble

all

of

a

sudden

as

a

surprise
.

Speaker 1
25:46

Which

goes

back

to

the

point

earlier

of

having

someone

on

your

team

that

specializes

in

this
.

Yeah
,

because

those

are

the

people

that

are

going

to

catch

that
.

Speaker 2
25:54

Yes
,

because

I

can't

think

of

all

the

nuances

that

a

gynecologist

can

think

of
.

I

don't

think

a

gynecologist
,

even

with

a

lot

of

experience

in

diaphragmatic

endometriosis
,

they

still
,

I

don't

think
,

have

the

training

to

think

of

all

the

implications

and

ramifications

that

I

have

in

my

mind

and

that

may

be

obvious

to

me
.

It

may

be

very

tricky

to

a

gynecologist
.

Speaker 1
26:17

Right
,

we

talk

about

the

risks

with

pregnancy
,

but

what

are

the

risks

for

surgery

when

it's

not

pregnancy
?

Are

there

risks

associated
,

of

course
,

with

every

surgery
?

There

is
,

but

what

are

some

of

the

risks
?

Maybe
?

Speaker 2
26:31

Yes
.

Well
,

when

we

are

operating

inside

the

chest
,

we

have

the

most

vital

structures

in

the

body

except

the

brain
.

So

you

have

the

heart
,

the

aorta
,

the

superior

vena

cava

all

the

largest

blood

vessels

in

the

body
.

So

clearly
,

we

are

in

a

delicate

area

in

which

expertise

and

surgical

skills

and

steady

hands

are

very

important
.

When

it

comes

to

pleural

surgery
,

it

is

normally

the

lowest

risk

type

of

surgery

when

it

comes

to

thoracic

endo
,

and

that

there

is

lung

surgery
,

which

is

something

that

thoracic

surgeons

perform

routinely
.

So
,

in

my

mind
,

one

aspect

that

has

to

be

looked

at

closely

and

the

surgeon

needs

to

have

specific

training

and

expertise

is

diaphragmatic

surgery
,

because

it's

not

part

of

every

thoracic

surgeon

experience

and

some

surgeons

might

not

ever

do

diaphragmatic

surgery

because

it's

not

part

of

every

thoracic

surgeon

experience

and

some

surgeons

might

not

ever

do

diaphragmatic

surgery

in

their

career
.

Speaker 2
27:31

When

it

came

to

me
,

I

already

had

the

interest

in

diaphragmatic

surgery

and

then

also

added

on

into

thoracic

endo
.

So

diaphragmatic

surgery

is

a

skill

in

itself

because

it's

basically

between

the

abdomen

and

the

chest
,

and

so

there

are

a

lot

of

implications

with

that
.

So

you

know
,

the

anatomy

below

the

right

hemidiaphragm

is

very

different

to

the

anatomy

that

is

below

the

left

hemidiaphragm
,

and

also

the

appearance

of

the

two

hemidiaphragm

is

very

different
,

because

on

one

side

you

have

the

heart
,

on

the

left
,

on

the

other

you

have

inferior

vena

cava

and

the

connection

that

the

liver

has

with

the

underbelly

of

the

hemidiaphragm
.

So

there

are

a

lot

of

anatomical

implications

to

consider
.

Speaker 1
28:12

Right
,

it's

so

complex
.

This

is

why

we

talk

about

you

know

that

specialty

aspect
.

You

have

your

knowledge

of

the

heart
,

but

your

pelvis

knowledge

is

probably

not

as

good

as

maybe

Vidali

or

someone

like

that
.

You

know

you

guys

are

all

so

good
,

but

that

you're

so

much

better

together

when

you

work

together

as

a

team
.

Speaker 2
28:30

Yeah
.

Speaker 1
28:31

And

that's

for

the

patient
.

Speaker 2
28:33

Yeah
.

So

if

you

take

a

highly

skilled

and

experienced

surgeon

and

you

show

them

any

surgical

technique
,

any

surgical

procedure
,

like

10

times
,

let's

make

like

an

experiment
.

Now

let's

say

that

Vidal

showed

me

10

easy

hysterectomies
.

With

my

20-year

surgical

training

I

could

probably

replicate
,

but

will

I

be

able

to

know

exactly

what

I'm

doing
?

In

the

same

way
,

I

could

take

him

through

an

easy

lobectomy
.

But

you

know
,

it's

not

just

the

acts

of

doing

things
,

it's

the

deep

understanding

of

the

anatomical

nuances
,

the

implications
,

the

slight

difference

that

in

doing

something

or

not

doing

it

has

an

outcome
.

Because

in

modern

surgery

thankfully

for

the

patients

we

are

not

looking

at

differences
.

There

are

large

differences

in

5%
,

10%
.

A

good

surgeon

or

a

bad

surgeon

now

is

quantified

in

2%

or

0.5%

better

outcomes
.

Speaker 1
29:41

Are

there

ways

that

people

you

know

similar

to

the

pelvis
?

A

lot

of

people

want

to

find

ways

that

they

can

help

manage

some

of

the

pain

without

surgery
.

Is

that

poethorastic

endometriosis

or

is

that

something

that

really

you

need

to

address

because

of

quality

of

life
?

Speaker 2
29:56

So

excision

versus

medical

treatment

is

a

very

well

debated

topic

very

well

debated

topic

and

you

know
,

if

you

look

at

the

ASHRAE

guidelines

that

are

in

Europe

are

advocating

lots

of

steps

of

medical

treatments

before

attending

excision
,

and

will

other

practitioners

and

gynecologists

offer

excision

almost

as

mainstream

treatment

and

then

consolidate

with

hormonal

treatment
.

When

it

comes

to

trasequendo

and

generally

the

generalities

of

medical

treatment

for

endometriosis
,

I

prefer

to

leave

it

with

the

gynecologist
.

I

still

feel

that

that's

more

their

patch
.

But

when

it

comes

to

trasequome
,

something

I've

seen

in

clinic

and

it's

my

main

advice

to

the

patients

is

don't

consider

it

as

a

long-term

solution
,

because

you

know
,

I've

seen

patients

that

maybe

they

start

having

chest

symptoms

and

they

went

on

some

hormonal

treatment

and

when

they

were

I

don't

know
,

37
,

38
,

they

decided

okay
,

now

I'll

stop

hormonal

treatment
,

I

want

to

have

children
,

and

all

of

a

sudden

they

started

having

lung

collapses
,

horrific

chest

and

diaphragmatic

pain

and

they

eventually

come

to

me
.

Speaker 2
31:17

It

takes

two
,

three

years

to

see

a

specialist

find

the

right

one

and

they

look

inside

there's

lots

of

endometriosis

and

the

clock

is

ticking

and

they

plan

for

fertility
.

Now

they're

40

years

old
,

41
,

and

are

still

struggling

with

their

chest

symptoms
.

So

you

see

where

I'm

going
.

So

my

opinion

is
,

if

you

have

endometriosis

and

chest

symptom

and

maybe

you

have

something

short

term
,

like

you

want

to

get

your

degree

or

getting

married

or

something

important

a

few

years

of

hormonal

treatment

is

probably

a

good

idea

to

maybe

achieve

your

Surgical Approaches and Considerations

Speaker 2
31:51

goals

and

then
,

in

the

long

run
,

maybe

consider

having

a

specialist

referral
,

having

a

thoracic

surgeon

looking

inside

the

chest

with

an

idea

of

what's

going

on
,

because

the

hormones

sometimes

are

very

good

at

masking

the

symptoms

but

they

don't

cure

the

disease
.

Speaker 1
32:06

Right

Right
,

which

is

probably

one

of

the

biggest

misconceptions

that

we

often

hear

right

yeah
,

it's

a

curative

measure
,

and

I

think

that's

why

it's

really

important

for

a

lot

of

us

to

understand

the

fact

that

a

hysterectomy

is

not

going

to

cure

your

thoracic

endometriosis
,

and

I

think

that

this

is

just

further

proof

of

that
.

It's

knowing

your

team
,

knowing

that

they

specialize

in

endometriosis

specifically

and

have

really

good

evidence-based

education

and

knowledge

to

accompany

their

skill

set
,

because

you

can

have

knowledge

and

not

skill
,

but

you

can

also

have

the

skill

and

not

the

knowledge

and

not

skill
,

but

you

can

also

have

the

skill

and

not

the

knowledge
.

Speaker 2
32:48

Yeah
,

it's

true
.

When

it

comes

to

evidence
,

nowadays

there's

a

great

deal

of

debate

where

the

evidence

comes

from

Right
.

Speaker 2
32:54

Because

there's

pharmaceutical

companies

that

are

producing

the

evidence

on

various

hormonal

treatments
.

And

when

it

comes

to

surgery

and

excision
,

it's

a

little

bit

harder

to

produce

it

because

you

have

a

few

specialists

that

do

a

lot

of

surgery

but

then

the

rest

is

a

high

number
,

especially

with

a

small

number

of

procedures
.

So

to

collectively

get

all

those

numbers

together

and

see

the

benefit

of

excision
,

it

is

a

challenge

that

we

need

to

face
,

the

challenge

we

need

to

do

this
,

but

it

is

not

an

easy

task

because

even

in

thoracic

endo

you

have

only

a

small

handful

of

thoracic

endo

doing

maybe

higher

volumes
,

and

then

you

have

surgeons

that

maybe

do

two

cases

in

their

career
,

but

you

have

hundreds

of

hundreds

of

surgeons

that

may

do

one
,

two

cases
,

three

cases
.

Speaker 1
33:53

Yeah
,

how

do

you

excise

thoracic

endometriosis
?

I

mean
,

we're

talking

about

excision
.

I

know

that

scares

a

lot

of

people

to

maybe

even

think

about
.

You're

going

to

cut

what

out

of

me

and

what

organ
.

How

do

you

do

things

like

this

and

I

know

that

this

is

complicated

to

explain
,

maybe

if

you

don't

have

a

medical

degree

but

is

there

a

way

that

you

explain

this

to

your

patients

as

how

you're

going

to

approach

excision
?

Speaker 2
34:17

Yeah
,

so

the

approach

is

either

thoracoscopic

or

robotic
,

which

is

various

modality

of

minimally

invasive

surgery
,

and

there

are

all

investigations

that

are

so-called

keyhole
,

which

you

insert

a

camera
,

and

then

you

have

arms

that

you

know
,

instruments

that

you

use

inside

the

chest

and

we

address

first-tier

mapping
,

which

is

a

high

definition

4K

or

6K

camera
.

I

look

at

every

corner

of

the

chest
,

we

take

pictures

all

over

and

then

these

pictures

stay

with

the

patient

and

with

us

to

have

a

database

of

images

to

keep

for

record
.

And

then

we

identify

all

the

areas

of

suspected

thoracic

endo
.

When

it

comes

to

the

pleura
,

we

excise

them
,

them

and

we

go

down

to

the

thoracic

fascia
.

The

pleura

is

the

lining

of

the

chest

cavity
.

When

it's

the

surface

of

the

lung
,

often

we

use

automatic

staplers
,

which

are

the

same

we

use

for

lung

resection
.

Fortunately
,

endometriosis

is

often

superficial
,

so

the

loss

of

lung

tissue

for

the

patient

is

minimal

and

the

breathing

capacity

is

virtually

the

same

after

resection

of

thoracic

endo
.

Speaker 2
35:34

The

most

impactful

operation

by

far

is

diaphragmatic

resection

because

at

least

when

I

see

deep

filters

to

the

diaphragmatic

endometriosis
,

I

excise

it
,

I

go

full

thicks

and

not

the

diaphragm
.

And

this

is

a

sore

procedure

because

the

more

your

surgeon

makes

an

effort

to

preserve

the

branches

and

fibers

of

the

phrenic

nerve
,

the

more

you're

going

to

feel

the

operation

after
.

So

if

you

just

go

and

make

a

big

cut

with

a

lot

of

energy

and

then

you

cut

all

the

branches

of

the

phrenic

nerve
,

normally

you

feel

less

pain

but

also

less

functional

phrenic

nerve

in

the

end
.

If

you

instead

do

like

a

tissue

sparing

procedure

in

which

you

just

take

exactly

the

area

which

is

affected

and

try

to

spare

as

much

as

possible
,

you

do

complex

reconstructions
.

You

know

it's

better

in

the

long

run
,

initially

actually

the

patient

the

area

which

is

defective

and

try

to

spare

as

much

as

possible
.

You

do

complex

reconstructions
.

You

know

it's

better

in

the

long

run
.

Initially

actually

the

patient

feels

the

operation

more

because

you

spare

the

fronting

nerve

branches

more
.

Speaker 1
36:35

I

mean

nerve

sparing

is

so

important

anywhere

in

the

body
.

There's

a

reason

we

have

our

nerves

right
.

Speaker 2
36:42

Yeah
,

but

unfortunately

the

structure

on

the

diaphragm

is

something

we

try

to

do
.

We

try

also

to

put

like

local

anesthesia

directly

on

the

frenteal

nerve
,

which

seems

to

give

like

a

little

bit

of

48
,

72

hours
,

but

unfortunately

it's

a

little

bit

of

a

slower

procedure
.

It's

important

that

I

communicate

this

to

the

patients

when

they

are

prepared

yeah
,

prepared

and

amazingly

I

had

patients

that

came

out

of

surgery

and

day

one

they

told

me

it's

achy

and

I

can

feel

it
.

But

they

said

I

can

feel

it's

not

classic
,

I

can

feel

it's

not

end

of

pain
.

I

can

tell

this

is

acute

pain
,

it's

like

something

bites

in

on

that
,

but

I

can

feel

that

it's

going

to

go
.

It's

nothing

to

do

with

that

heat-throbbing
,

dull

ache

that

they

felt

with

thoracic

endometriosis
,

which

is

amazing

because

obviously

I

know

thoracic

endometriosis

a

sore

operation

is

painful

and

they

immediately

detect

that

the

pain

has

changed
.

Speaker 1
37:45

I

mean
,

I

think

that's

similar
.

You

know
,

I

have

only

had

surgery

in

my

pelvis

really
,

but

it's

a

similar

thing

where

you

wake

up

and

you're

like

I'm

in

pain
.

But

it's

not

the

same

pain
.

I

feel

so

much

better
,

in

fact

the

energy

was

back

more
.

And

you

know
,

it's

just

very
,

very

different

between

healing

pain

and

your

body

telling

you

something's

wrong

pain
.

You

know
,

I

think

that

there's

that

somatic

pain

and

which

is

I

think

so

interesting
.

Speaker 2
38:13

It's

amazing

if

you

think

that

in

a

few

years

we

went

from

many

doctors

even

denying

the

very

existence

of

thoracic

and

diaphragmatic

endometriosis
,

and

now

we're

discussing

a

patient

realizing

when

they

wake

up

from

surgery

that

the

traumatic

pain

is

gone
,

the

endo

pain

is

gone

and

now

the

feeling

that

the

healing

pain

and

surgical

pain

is

an

amazing

transformation

Treatment Options and Pregnancy Concerns

Speaker 2
38:36

in

just

a

few

years
.

Speaker 1
38:38

What

is

a

typical

healing

time

for

surgeries

like

this
,

because

that

is

another

thing

people

are

a

little

leery

of
.

Speaker 2
38:45

Yeah
,

so

patients
,

normally

they'll

be

walking

a

few

hours

after

surgery
.

So

I

don't

want

to

scare

people

off

too

much

about

the

impact
.

So

it

is

manageable

and

they'll

be

walking

hours

after

the

operation
.

Normally

the

lines

they

have

is

one

chest

strain

or

not
.

Always

they're

going

to

have

a

chest

strain
,

it

depends

on

the

entity

of

what

they

had
.

I

am

trying

to

minimize

the

user

chest

strain
.

Sometimes

they

don't

have

any

lines
.

They're

going

to

have

the

incisions

on

the

chest
.

Speaker 2
39:14

And

there's

another

thing

that
,

working

towards

minimizing
,

we're

trying

to

do

single

axis

surgery
.

So

either

going

on

the

chest

and

then

through

the

diaphragm

to

look

in

the

abdomen

or

from

the

abdomen

through

the

diaphragm

to

look

in

the

chest
.

Try

to

avoid

having

dual

axis

because

when

you

operate

on

somebody

through

the

abdomen

they

breathe

with

their

muscles

in

the

chest

the

chest

muscles
.

When

you

operate

them

through

the

chest

you

use

their

abdominal

muscle

to

breathe
.

It's

intuitive

that

if

you

go

through

both

cavities

it

is

difficult

to

breathe

after

surgery
.

So

that's

the

idea
.

You

know
,

in

recovery

you

stay

in

hospital

two
,

three

nights

and

then

they

will

go

home
.

We

normally

say

stay

off
,

work

a

couple

of

weeks
,

Okay
,

and

you

know
,

keep

taking

painkillers

and

doing

physio
.

Speaker 1
40:10

The

quality

of

life
.

There

are

restrictions

after

endometriosis

surgery

like

this

that

maybe

they

shouldn't

go

back

to
.

Speaker 2
40:19

Expectation
.

Actually

they

will

be

doing

better
.

They

should

have

less

restriction

to

the

quality

of

life
.

That's

the

whole

purpose

of

the

operation
.

So

if
,

for

example
,

they

had

probably

pneumothorax
,

repeat

the

collapsed

lung
,

they

might

be

able

to

finally

travel

and

take

a

plane
,

because

they

were

very

scared

to

do

so

because

of

their

previous

collapsed

lung
,

or

even

travel

to

somewhere

exotic
.

They

were

scared

to

do

that

because

of

the

you

know
,

were

afraid

to

have

a

pneumothorax

in

somewhere

that

you

cannot

have
,

you

know
,

appropriate

care

and

also

when

it

comes

to

cyclic

and

diaphragmatic

pain
.

That

should

also

improve

their

quality

of

life
.

Speaker 1
40:59

Yeah
,

this

is

all

really

good
.

Okay
,

here's

where

it

gets

really

good
.

What

are

you

excited

for

in

thoracic

endometriosis

in

surgery
?

What

do

you

see

changing
?

Speaker 2
41:12

I

am

excited

One

aspect

about

international

collaborations

to

make

sure

that

some

centers

have

a

high

volume

of

thoracic

endometriosis
.

That
,

I

believe
,

is

the

way

you

increase

knowledge

in

surgery
.

Initially
,

it's

very

important

to

have

a

few

centers

have

high

volumes
.

They

can

create

a

pathway

and

start

the

operative

procedures

and

then

they

can

disseminate

out

that
.

The

second

aspect

I

am

excited

is

education
,

and

I've

been

working

with

European

society
.

I'm

director

of

the

European

exam

and

the

Jurassic

course

and

this

year

we'll

have
,

for

the

first

time
,

jurassic

and

the

Machios

be

part

of

the

curriculum
.

And

also

I

believe

that

I'm

very

excited

about

this

era

of

the

appropriate

and

good

use

of

social

media
,

because

I

think

social

media

are

really

the

game

changer

because

they

can

reach

anyone

Like

I

don't

know
.

Tomorrow
,

anyone

a

politician

in

Polynesia

will

come

see

this

interview

and

they

will

learn

something

they

didn't

know
,

and

I

think

this

is

incredibly

powerful

too
.

And

social

media
,

if

used

correctly
,

are

a

force

for

good
.

Speaker 1
42:32

Yeah
,

it

can

be

a

great

tool
.

You

have

to

be

mindful

of

who

you're

listening

to
.

Obviously

that's

for

anything
,

right
,

but

it

can

be

such

a

great

tool

and

a

great

way

of

getting

really

good

education

out

there

and

ways

to

navigate

our

care

better
.

What

would

you

tell

the

patient

that

suspects

they

potentially

have

thoracic

diaphragmatic

disease
?

What

would

you

tell

them

if

they

are

struggling

finding

the

proper

care
?

Speaker 2
43:03

I

would

probably

advise

to

seek

out

a

high

volume

center

in

endometriosis

and

ask

them

if

they

have

contact

with

the

thoracic

surgeon

that

also

can

see

them
,

because

often

the

answer

is

yes
,

we

have

a

thoracic

surgeon

that

works

with

us
.

Don't

worry
,

when

we

need

them
,

we

call

it

or

we

call

her
.

That's

not

the

answer

that

I

would

be

satisfied

with
.

I

would

like

to

meet

with

the

person

and

have

an

encounter

with

the

person

and

see

what

the

answer

is

going

to

be
,

what

experience
,

what

their

ideas

and

and

the

surgical

plans

as

well
.

Speaker 1
43:46

Yeah
,

it's

key

to

know

your

team

and

if

they

can

follow

you

in

everything

you

do

and

continue

working

with

you
,

because

this

is

you

know
,

a

lot

of

times

we

talk

about

this

disease

as

it

being
,

you

know
,

a

whole

body
.

It's

a

whole

life

disease

too
.

You

have

to

be

aware

of

everything

that

kind

of

coincides

with

this

disease
,

which

are

there

other

diseases

that

tend

to

like

to

partner

with

cardiothoracic

endometriosis
?

Are

there

things

that

you

see

in

correlation
?

Speaker 2
44:16

Well
,

thoracic

endometriosis

in

general

is

an

association

with

many

other

conditions

LN

dollars
,

connective

tissue

or

fibromyalgia
.

Although
,

when

it

comes

to

this

chronic

pain

condition
,

I

often

wonder

if

it's

a

chicken

and

egg

situation

which
,

when

you

have

chronic

pain

in

the

chest

and

the

abdomen
,

it's

easy

to

diagnose

also

a

pain

in

the

muscles

or

the

joints
,

because

the

body

is

all

connected

and
,

for

example
,

having

adhesions

in

the

abdomen

can

lead

to

the

big

muscle

at

the

bottom

of

our

lumbar

spine

which

is

the

alio

stoas

muscles
,

and

this

can

create

a

whole

lot

of

back

pain

and

shoulder

pain

and

other

issues
.

So
,

you

know
,

also

sadly
,

is

depression

because

and

anxiety
,

because

chronic

pain

has

a

huge

impact

on

our

mental

health
.

So
,

yeah
,

it's

connected

with

various

aspects

and

also

the

anxiety

of

having

a

repeated

neural

thorax

and

being

dismissed
,

having

chest

pain

or

shoulder

pain
.

Speaker 2
45:19

I

think

that

medical

dismissal

and

gaslighting

is

a

disease

in

itself
,

because

you're

in

pain
,

you're

in

trouble

and

you

seek

out

the

expert's

opinion

and

the

expert's

opinion

is

oh
,

it's

all

in

your

head
.

I

often

admire

the

patient

that

went

on

for

years

because

I'm

not

sure

if

I

would

do

the

same
.

I
,

you

know
,

maybe

seek

one

specialist

and

another

one

and

they

tell

me

no
,

look
,

don't

worry
,

it's

all

fine
,

it's

all

in

your

head
.

Just

take

this

pill
.

It

will

help

you

sleep

and

be

less

anxious

and

go

ahead

with

your

life
.

I

probably

would

listen
.

Speaker 1
45:58

And

that

goes

to

the

fact

that

we

are

loyal

a

lot

of

times

to

our

medical

providers
,

whether

they're

serving

us

well

or

not
.

Speaker 1
46:04

Sometimes

and

that's

what's

really

hard

for

patients

specifically

is

that

we

the

gaslighting
.

It

becomes

a

mental

struggle

and

then

it

kind

of

exacerbates

the

depression

anxiety

even

more
,

and

that's

what's

so

challenging
,

and

especially

when

you

have

complex

disease

that

isn't

widely

recognized
.

I'm

sure

in

this

case

you

know

a

lot

of

your

patients

have

experienced

that

where

they're

constantly

seeking

care

for

something

and

being

told

that

it's

nothing
,

it's

just

anxiety
,

it's

just

depression
,

which

it

turns

into
.

That

you

know
.

So

I

think

your

job

is

even

more

challenging

than

probably

some

other

areas

of

medical

care

because

you're

seeing

patients

who

have

been

doing

this

for

years
.

You're

not

only

a

doctor
,

a

surgeon
,

but

you

in

some

ways

are

the

one

that's

helping

their

mental

health

because

you

believe

them
,

you

know
,

and

finding

them

a

better

care

team

that

will

believe

them

and

not

just

settle

for

it's

in

your

head

or

you

just

have

anxiety
.

Future Direction and Patient Advocacy

Speaker 1
47:09

So

I

have

to

imagine

that

takes

a

toll

on

you

sometimes

too

is

to

see

your

patients

walk

through

that
.

Speaker 2
47:15

It

is
.

It

is
.

You

know
,

oftentimes

they

are

difficult
.

I

mean
,

I

would

say

everyone

is

very

nice
.

It's

just

that

it

took

a

toll

on

my

trust

and

faith

in

my

own

medical

profession

listening

to

all

these

stories
.

But

at

the

same

time

I

don't

feel

I

want

to

chastise

my

colleagues
,

because

they

were

trained

to

do

diagnosis

and

they

were

also

trained

not

to

believe

every

symptom

because

they

felt

especially

the

older

generation

of

doctors

that

they

were

the

one

that

will

filter

through

the

noise

and

then

find

the

diagnosis
.

I

feel

that

older

generation

doctors

they

were

not

everyone
,

of

course
,

but

they

were

more

about

saving

lives
,

the

mortality

of

things
.

Now

medicine

is

more

about

quality

of

life
,

in

which

it's

not

all

important
.

You

recognize

an

important

symptom

but

if

it

is

a

great

deal

for

the

patient
,

if

the

patient

feels

it

as

they're

perceiving

that
,

then

it's

the

big

deal
.

It's

important
,

regardless

of

the

fact

that

maybe

not

relevant

for

what

you

were

trained

as

a

doctor
.

I

think

there's

a

shift

in

the

medical

profession

understanding

what's

relevant
.

Speaker 1
48:35

Yeah
,

I

think

there's

also

a

shift

too
.

I

mean
,

I

think

there's

probably
.

This

could

go

either

way
,

but

I

think

a

lot

of

providers

are

coming

to

terms

with

the

fact

that

the

patients

are

becoming

more

savvy
,

and

so

they

themselves

are

becoming

more

curious
,

and

maybe

not

even

more

curious
,

but

they're

like
,

well
,

they're

saying

this

over

and

over

again
.

I

got

to

figure

out

why
,

you

know

so
.

I

think

that

it

is

shifting

a

little

bit
.

Speaker 2
49:00

Yeah
.

So

when

you

mentioned

before

going

back

to

your

previous

question

what

would

you

want

for

your

doctor
,

you

know
,

thoracic

surgeon

or

gynecologist
?

I

think

for

me
,

one

of

the

most

important

green

flags

when

you

go

and

see

a

specialist

is

a

specialist

that

doesn't

mind

to

be

challenged

and

doesn't

get

annoyed

when

you

mention

Dr

Google
.

Speaker 1
49:20

Yes
.

Speaker 2
49:20

Because

I

actually

like

it
,

because

it

keeps

me

always

informed
.

It

happens

very

rarely

that

the

patient

comes

up

with

something

that

I

didn't

hear

before
,

but

nonetheless

I

still

enjoy

it

because

I

like

when

the

patients

are

knowledgeable

and

they

come

up

with

their

own

ideas
.

And

if

the

specialist

offers

just

listens

for

the

first

bit

of

the

consultation
,

normally

you

establish

their

reports

of

trust

and

people

relax

and

opens

up
.

If

especially

starts

immediately

being

defensive

and

seems

annoyed
,

I

think

is

a

sign

of

a

bit

of

your

shaky

knowledge

and

not

so

confidence

in

that

level

of

depth

of

knowledge
,

right
.

So

I

would

advise

the

patient
.

You

know

he

has

a

green

flag
,

he's

a

doctor
,

doesn't

mind

to

be

challenged
.

Speaker 1
50:13

Yeah
,

I

agree
,

because

we're

all

complex

humans
.

We

all

deserve

that

bit

of

curiosity

in

our

care

right
,

having

a

provider

go

alongside

you

with

that

means

a

lot

to

us

as

patients
,

but

also

it

can

change

the

face

of

medical

care

across

the

board
,

which

is

why

I'm

excited

that

you

are

doing

what

you're

doing
,

because

that

curiosity
,

that

drive

to

continue

seeking

better

care

for

the

patients

and

understanding

the

disease
,

understanding

the

patients

with

the

disease

and

all

the

nuances

that

come

with

it
,

are

imperative

for

the

future

of

endometriosis
.

So

thank

you

for

continuing

to

be

curious
,

thank

you

for

taking

the

time

to

sit

down

and

explain

this

to

people

so

that

they

have

better

knowledge

and

have

a

better

understanding

of

potential

risks

of

extra

pelvic

endometriosis
.

And

so

thank

you

so

much

for

taking

the

time
.

I

know

it's

precious
.

Speaker 2
51:09

Pleasure
.

Thanks

so

much
.

Speaker 1
51:12

Absolutely
.

Thank

you

Until

next

time
.

Everyone

continue

advocating

for

you

and

for

others
.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *