Microvascular changes in the peripheral microcirculation of women with chronic pelvic pain due to congestion

Objective Pelvic venous congestion is a common finding in women with chronic pelvic pain. While the pathophysiology of this condition is poorly understood, there are clear indications that it involves vascular dysfunction. The present studies sought abnormalities in microvascular function in these patients.
Design Prospective longitudinal study.
Setting A teaching hospital tertiary referral.
Population Eighteen women with pelvic congestion and 13 nomal women.
Methods Parameters of microcirculatory function were measured in the calves of women using venous congestion plethysmography during the midfollicular and midluteal phases of the menstrual cycle. The women with pelvic congestion were studied again after treatment for the condition.
Main outcome measures Isovolumetric venous pressure, microvascular filtration capacity and limb blood flow.
Results Of the measured parameters of microvascular function, only isovolumetric venous pressure (Pvi) was significantly higher in women with congestion when compared to the controls during the same phase of the cycle. There were no menstrual cycle related differences in any of the other measured parameters in either patients or controls. Following successful treatment for the condition, values of Pvi in women with pelvic congestion were significantly reduced, achieving a level similar to that observed in the controls.
Conclusion The observed changes in Pvi suggest that this parameter is intimately associated with the pathophysiology of pelvic congestion. The increase in Pvi, without alterations in other measured microvascular parameters, may be attributable to systemic increases in postcapillary resistance secondary to neutrophil activation. These findings support the notion of systemic microvascular dysfunction in these women.     

Embolization of the ovarian veins as a treatment for patients with chronic pelvic pain caused by pelvic venous incompetence (pelvic congestion syndrome).

Ovarian and pelvic (internal iliac) varices have long been recognized as a source of chronic pelvic pain in women. The technique of transcatheter embolotherapy for ovarian and pelvic varices requires selective catheterization of the ovarian and internal iliac veins, followed by contrast venography and embolization. The long-term effects of treatment are the subject of ongoing investigation. This article provides a concise background on ovarian and pelvic varices and reviews the recently published literature on their embolization for the treatment of pelvic venous incompetence (also known as pelvic congestion syndrome).     

Bilateral oophorectomy and hysterectomy in the treatment of intractable pelvic pain associated with pelvic congestion.

OBJECTIVE--To determine whether bilateral oophorectomy combined with hysterectomy is an effective treatment for chronic pelvic pain due to congestion. DESIGN--Prospective non-randomized single centre study. SETTING--Tertiary referral centre to a specialist pelvic pain clinic in a teaching hospital. SUBJECTS--36 women, 33 of whom had failed to obtain long term relief of pain on medical therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Relief of pain, coital frequency, and effect on daily life. Histology of uterus and ovaries. RESULTS--Median pain score on visual analogue scale fell from a pre-operative value of 10 to 0 at one year. Twelve of the 36 women had some residual pain at one year postoperatively, but in only one woman was the pain affecting her daily life. Thirty women were noted to have pelvic tenderness pre-operatively, at one year, 26 had no tenderness and four minimal tenderness on pelvic examination. The median frequency of sexual intercourse increased from once per month preoperatively to eight times per month one year postoperatively. The uterus was histologically normal in 25 women, adenomyosis was present in eight of whom two had ovarian endometriosis. Fibroids were present in three and endometriosis was found confined to the ovaries in one woman. Multiple peripheral cysts were present in the ovaries of 25 women. CONCLUSION--Bilateral oophorectomy combined with hysterectomy and hormone replacement therapy is an effective treatment for chronic pelvic pain due to venous congestion, which has failed to respond to medical treatment and leads to restoration of normal coital function and daily life.     

Electrical stimulation in the treatment of pelvic pain due to levator ani spasm

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate experience with intravaginal electrical stimulation for the relief of pain when used as adjunctive therapy in women with chronic pelvic pain and levator ani spasm. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort of consecutively treated patients from 1999 and 2000 was identified using billing records. Systematic chart review was completed using standardized data collection forms for all patients receiving electrical stimulation for pain from levator ani spasm. Data collected were objective for major variables and subjective for outcomes. Demographic data were reported as means and standard deviations. Stimulation characteristics were compared using ANOVA. Survival analysis was performed using life table methods. RESULTS: Medical records from 66 consecutive patients treated during an 18-month interval were reviewed. Demographic characteristics included mean age of 38.7 years, 13 years of education and parity of 2. Married women composed 75% of the study group, with 81% white, 10% Hispanic and 9% black. Of the 66 patients studied, 50 had follow-up documentation with an average duration of 14.5 weeks. Overall, 34 patients (52%) demonstrated improvement in pelvic pain following vaginal electrical stimulation. Using survival analysis, 51% of patients had persistent improvement 30 weeks after treatment. There were no differences in age, race, education or parity between patients reporting a sustained benefit of stimulation and those not reporting a benefit. CONCLUSION: Vaginal electrical stimulation may help a selected population of women with pelvic pain due to levator ani spasm.     

Uterine size and endometrial thickness and the significance of cystic ovaries in women with pelvic pain due to congestion

In a group of 55 women with chronic pain due to pelvic congestion measurement by ultrasound revealed they had a larger uterus and thicker endometrium as compared with a group of normal women matched for age, parity and the presence of polycystic ovaries found on ultrasound scanning. Many women with pelvic congestion (56%) were found on ultrasound to have cystic changes in their ovaries which ranged from a classic polycystic pattern to the appearance of clusters of 4-6 cysts in bilaterally enlarged ovaries. It is suggested that uterine enlargement and thickening of the endometrium are caused by oestrogen, either from the effects on the target organs of an increased concentration or of hypersensitivity to oestrogen.     

Uterine size and endometrial thickness and the significance of cystic ovaries in women with pelvic pain due to congestion

Summary. In a group of 55 women with chronic pain due to pelvic congestion measurement by ultrasound revealed they had a larger uterus and thicker endometrium as compared with a group of normal women matched for age, parity and the presence of polycystic ovaries found on ultrasound scanning. Many women with pelvic congestion (56%) were found on ultrasound to have cystic changes in their ovaries which ranged from a classic polycystic pattern to the appearance of clusters of 4–6 cysts in bilaterally enlarged ovaries. It is suggested that uterine enlargement and thickening of the endometrium are caused by oestrogen, either from the effects on the target organs of an increased concentration or of hypersensitivity to oestrogen.     

A randomized controlled trial of medroxyprogesterone acetate and psychotherapy for the treatment of pelvic congestion

The value of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and of psychotherapy in the treatment of lower abdominal pain due to pelvic congestion was assessed in a randomized controlled trial. Eighty-four women with abnormal pelvic venography were assigned to one of four treatment groups: MPA alone, MPA plus psychotherapy, placebo alone, and placebo plus psychotherapy. Women were treated for 4 months and thereafter followed up regularly for 9 months with pain assessments, pelvic ultrasound scanning, and hormone measurements. During treatment, MPA showed a significant benefit in terms of a reduction in visual analogue scale pain score, with 73% of women reporting at least 50% improvement compared with 33% of those treated with placebo. At 9 months after the end of therapy there was no overall significant effect of MPA or psychotherapy, but there was an interaction between MPA and psychotherapy, with 71% of the women in this group showing a greater than or equal to 50% reduction in pain score. Therapy with MPA is a useful first-line therapy for women with pain associated with demonstrable pelvic congestion.     

Computed tomography-guided pudendal block for treatment of pelvic pain due to pudendal neuropathy

BACKGROUND: Severe pelvic pain secondary to pudendal neuropathy can be treated with repeated local anesthetic nerve blocks or with surgical decompression of the nerve. Computed tomographic (CT) needle guidance to identified reliable anatomic points might be useful for improved success rates. TECHNIQUE: A CT scan is used to determine baseline anatomy and identify the sacrospinous process. A metallic marker is used to create a perpendicular pathway from the sacrospinous process upward to the skin surface, where a local anesthetic is injected. A 22-gauge, 5-inch needle is inserted downward in a perpendicular direction to the target. Deep penetration and direction are confirmed by serial CT scans. Medication is injected and the needle is removed. EXPERIENCE: Twenty-six women with diagnoses of pudendal neuropathy were treated with injection therapy once per month, for five total treatments each. About three-quarters experienced improvement. There were no complications in this series. Outcomes were gratifying considering the complex patient population, all having failed multiple therapeutic trials. CONCLUSION: We believe this technique warrants further evaluation and application in instances where noninvasive therapy of pudendal neuropathy is indicated.     

Comparison of cyproterone acetate and danazol in the treatment of pelvic pain associated with endometriosis

Twenty-three patients with laparoscopically diagnosed endometriosis and pelvic pain were allocated randomly to treatment with cyproterone acetate 27 mg plus ethinyl estradiol 0.035 mg/day (11 patients) or danazol 600 mg/day (12 patients). All women received treatment for 6 months, except for one in the cyproterone group who suspended treatment for nonmedical reasons and was excluded from analysis of the results. The clinical condition and pain symptoms were monitored in all patients for 1 year after treatment suspension. The intensity of pelvic pain at diagnosis, during treatment, and at follow-up was evaluated by a multidimensional verbal score and an analogue scale. At the end of treatment, a repeat laparoscopy was performed in those patients who agreed (four in the cyproterone group, five in the danazol group); the results showed a partial regression of endometriotic lesions in both groups, with no significant differences between them. Dysmenorrhea disappeared in all patients during treatment. At 6 months after suspension, dysmenorrhea recurred in 66% of the cyproterone group and 58% of the danazol group, and at 1 year in 89 and 92%, respectively. Intermenstrual pelvic pain improved markedly during treatment in both groups; 6 months after treatment withdrawal it was present in four cyproterone subjects and four danazol group patients, whereas after 1 year, only one woman in the danazol group did not have this symptom. Deep dyspareunia was less affected by treatment, and 6 months later had recurred in all the women.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

女性绝育术后盆腔静脉瘀血症的临床研究

目的探讨输卵管绝育术后盆腔静脉瘀血症的临床表现、诊断和治疗方法。方法应用腹腔镜技术和盆腔静脉造影,联合诊断５６例患者,对其术后标本作盆腔瘀血静脉病理形态学观察;治疗以手术为主。结果腹腔镜诊断符合率为９４６％（５３／５６）,与盆腔静脉造影比较,对轻度、重度的诊断差异无显著性（Ｐ＞０．０５）。本组病例经治疗后治愈率为６０７％、好转率为１６１％,总有效率为７６８％;其中,手术治疗和保守性治疗的有效率分别为９０１％和１８２％。结论腹腔镜检查对本病的诊断具有重要价值,联合盆腔静脉造影检查,可作为诊断本病的主要依据。对中、重度患者应以手术治疗为宜。     

Medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding: factors predicting satisfaction

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to identify the determinants of patient satisfaction with a cyclic regimen of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) for abnormal uterine bleeding. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective cohort study of 413 premenopausal women were treated for 3 to 5 months with oral MPA 10 to 20 mg per day for 10 to 14 days per month. We assessed satisfaction with and willingness to continue MPA. Baseline characteristics hypothesized to predict treatment satisfaction were entered into logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Sixty-five percent of subjects (271) completed at least 3 months of MPA, 79% (215) filled out a satisfaction survey, and 57% (123) expressed satisfaction with MPA. Satisfaction was predicted by age 35 years or older (odds ratio [OR] 2.67, CI 1.07-6.7), desire for uterine conservation (OR 1.36, CI 1.11-1.66), perceived importance of stopping bleeding (OR 0.69, CI 0.54-0.87), and tubal sterilization (OR 0.52, CI 0.28-0.96). Neither bleeding history nor parity predicted MPA satisfaction. CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the importance of considering patient age, fertility status, attitudes about uterine conservation, and desire for definitive resolution of bleeding when deciding whether to use MPA versus other treatments for abnormal uterine bleeding.     

The efficacy of Implanon for the treatment of chronic pelvic pain associated with pelvic congestion: 1-year randomized controlled pilot study

Objective  To evaluate the beneficial effects of Implanon on pelvic pain in women with pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS). The efficacy of pain control, amount and frequency of menstrual loss, degree of patient’s satisfaction and objective pelvic venography scores were investigated. Methods  In a prospective open-labelled study, 25 consecutive women complaining of chronic pelvic pain were recruited. Pretreatment objective peruterine venography and diagnostic laparoscopy of pure PCS together with subjective pelvic pain scores, prefilled questionnaire of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), visual analogue scale (VAS), verbal rating scale (VRS) and quantified menstrual loss using the pictorial blood loss chart were documented in all cases. After identification, 23 subjects with pure PCS were randomly assigned to have either Implanon inserted subcutaneously (12 cases) or no treatment (11 cases). Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. A symptom diary for side effects, VAS, VRS and menstrual scores were used to assess the subjective response to treatment. At the end of the study, all patients underwent repeat venography to assess the long-term objective response. After 12 months, subjects having Implanon inserted were requested to rate their overall degree of satisfaction with therapy. Results  All 25 women recruited in the study completed follow-up. Two cases were excluded from the study and referred to the psychiatry department after a negative evaluation for disease and HADS scores relevant for depression. An improvement in symptoms was observed throughout the 12 months amongst the Implanon group versus no treatment. The greatest changes in pain assessed using either the VAS or VRS were between the pretreatment scores and those after 6 months (7.7 ± 1.3 vs. 4.6 ± 3.0 for VAS, P < 0.001; and 25 ± 13.8 vs. 19 ± 18.9 for VRS, P < 0.002). The monthly quantified blood loss fell from 204 (196) pretreatment to 90 (157) at 6 months (P < 0.001) and then to 64 (32) at 9 months (P < 0.002). Objective repeat venography score was reduced significantly at 1 year after treatment compared with the baseline evaluation as well as with the control group (4.5 ± 1.2 vs. 8.6 ± 0.5; P = 0.001 and 4.2 ± 0.9 vs. 8.5 ± 0.6; P = 0.0002, respectively). At final satisfaction assessment, 2 (17%) women were very satisfied 8 (66%) were satisfied, and 2 (17%) were uncertain. The implant was retained by all women at the end of the study. Conclusion  Implanon seems to be an effective hormonal alternative for long-term treatment of properly selected patients with pure PCS-related pelvic pain.