A Staffordshire hospital trust is set to launch a study to help improve surgical outcomes for endometriosis patients. 

The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has been awarded £250,000 to carry out the research alongside Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust.

The trial of the new treatment method will recruit 70 patients over the two sites throughout the two-year trial. It will compare the standard stent method with a new technique using indocyanine green dye. 

It's hoped the method will significantly reduce patients' pain, surgical complications, and recovery time.

Endometriosis is a common yet debilitating condition where tissue similar to the womb lining grows outside the uterus, often causing severe pelvic pain and infertility.

Mr Gourab Misra, consultant gynaecologist at UHNM and chief investigator, said: "Surgery for deep endometriosis is complex and carries a risk of damaging the ureters, the delicate tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder. 

"Traditionally, surgeons use stents to identify and protect these structures, but these can cause significant pain, bleeding, and require a second procedure to remove. 

"As a group of surgeons, we saw the challenges our patients faced and worked hard to design this proposal.

"Our aim is to minimise complications and improve the patient journey, reducing pain and morbidity associated with these complex procedures."

Professor Justin Clark, Consultant Gynaecologist who is leading on the study at Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Deep endometriosis affects and causes significant pain adversely affecting quality of life. 

"Whilst surgery is effective, it is highly complex. This trial uses a novel dye called ICG that clearly identifies the ureters, which are pipes that transport urine from the kidney to the bladder. 

"We hope that this study will show using ICG can reduce complication, speed up surgery and reduce pain following the operation, as well as enhancing recovery."