A 29-year-old woman from Limerick, Ireland, Lisa Walsh, is traveling to Greece to undergo a rare and complex surgical procedure for advanced endometriosis, a condition that, in her case, has spread beyond her pelvic organs to her diaphragm and heart.
Lisa has been living with debilitating symptoms including chronic pain, shortness of breath, and cardiac complications since a decade. After years of seeking medical help in Ireland, she was diagnosed with stage four endometriosis in 2023. Walsh is now scheduled to receive specialized multi-organ surgery at a hospital in Athens, as such procedures are currently not available domestically.
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disorder where tissue similar to the endometrium, the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. These misplaced tissues respond to hormonal cycles, leading to pain, inflammation, and scar tissue formation wherever it is present.
The condition affects roughly 1 in 10 women of reproductive age globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2023). It often involves the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and intestines, but in rare cases, endometrial tissue can spread to extra-pelvic organs such as the lungs, diaphragm, or heart.
Lisa Walsh underwent excision surgery on November 4th where visible endometrial lesions are carefully removed from affected organs. In advanced cases like hers, this may involve laparoscopic or robotic-assisted surgery under the supervision of experienced thoracic and cardiac specialists.
Lisa Walsh later shared on Instagram that her surgery lasted for more than 11 hours, during which a multidisciplinary team, including colorectal and thoracic surgeons worked together to rebuild the internal organs affected by endometriosis. The disease had involved her pelvis, abdomen, bladder, and intestines. She revealed that doctors found her bladder blackened and her liver and intestines beginning to adhere to the abdominal wall.
She explained that the doctors managed to remove all the lesions, and since the organs were not infiltrated, she is hopeful for recovery, although it will be a long one. A mesh was stitched in to help the healing process on to the septum of the heart.
Lisa also advocated for better care and awareness of endometriosis in Ireland, criticizing the recently introduced national care regimen for overlooking advanced forms of the disease. She expressed concern that classifying endometriosis solely as a gynecological issue has led to delayed diagnoses and inadequate treatment. Having experienced dismissal by her gynecologist in Ireland, she emphasized how such neglect worsened her condition and delayed timely care. Through her story, she hopes to raise awareness about this severely debilitating condition.
When endometriosis spreads beyond the pelvic region, it is referred to as extrapelvic endometriosis. One form, thoracic endometriosis syndrome (TES), can affect the lungs, diaphragm, or chest cavity, causing symptoms like chest pain, shoulder pain, coughing up blood, or shortness of breath, often cyclical with the menstrual cycle.
Cases involving the heart or pericardium are extremely rare. A 2021 study published in the Journal of Thoracic Disease noted fewer than 20 confirmed cases of cardiac endometriosis worldwide, underscoring the rarity and complexity of Lisa Walsh’s condition.
When the disease affects the diaphragm, it can lead to pain radiating to the chest and shoulders, difficulty breathing, and sometimes mimic cardiac issues.
Experts note that endometriosis often goes underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years. On average, patients wait between 7–10 years for a proper diagnosis.
In Ireland, as in many countries, specialized surgical expertise for multi-organ or deep infiltrating endometriosis remains limited. Such cases often require a multidisciplinary surgical team, including gynecologists, thoracic surgeons, and cardiologists.
Lisa Walsh’s journey highlights the gaps in advanced endometriosis care and the need for specialized treatment centers capable of addressing severe or extra-pelvic disease.
Endometriosis can severely affect a woman’s quality of life, causing not only physical pain but also emotional, social, and economic challenges. The WHO emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis, multidisciplinary management, and better access to care for women living with chronic gynecological conditions.
Walsh’s case serves as a reminder that while endometriosis is common, its severe and systemic forms remain under-researched and under-treated, especially when the disease extends beyond reproductive organs.
World Health Organization. 2023. Endometriosis. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis.
PK Women’s Clinic. 2023. “Can Endometriosis Spread to Other Organs?” https://pkwomensclinic.com.sg/endometriosis-spread-to-other-organs-facts/.
Hirata, Tetsuya, Kaori Koga, and Yutaka Osuga. 2020. “Extra-pelvic Endometriosis: A Review.” Reproductive Medicine and Biology 19, no. 4: 323-33. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7542014/
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