Pelvic vein thrombosis as a cause of acute pelvic pain

BACKGROUND: Pelvic vein thrombosis may occur in nonpuerperal patients with hypercoagulable conditions and have significant sequelae. The purpose of this report is to describe a nonpuerperal woman with factor V Leiden mutation who developed acute pelvic pain secondary to pelvic varix thrombosis.CASE: A multiparous woman, status post-bilateral tubal interruption, presented with acute onset of severe left-sided pelvic pain 5–6 weeks from the onset of her last menstrual period. A pelvic computed tomography scan showed left pelvic varix thrombosis. Hematologic studies were consistent with heterozygous factor V Leiden mutation. The patient was treated with heparin and warfarin, and had complete resolution of her pain.CONCLUSION: Pelvic vein thrombosis may cause acute pelvic pain in nonpuerperal women, especially those with primary hypercoagulopathies. This should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute pelvic pain in reproductive-age women.     

May-Thurner syndrome resulting in acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis during the second trimester of pregnancy

Described is a 27-year-old pregnant woman with May-Thurner syndrome who experienced extensive pelvic and lower extremity thromboses during the antepartum period. The patient was referred for a symptomatic deep venous thrombosis at 23 weeks of gestation. Ultrasonography demonstrated a massive thrombus in the left iliofemoral vein. Heparin was given intravenously. Due to the possibility of pulmonary embolism during or immediately after delivery, a temporary inferior vena cava filter was inserted at 36 weeks of gestation. Labor was induced at 37 + 5 weeks of gestation; labor proceeded uneventfully and a male infant was born. Postpartum computed tomography (CT) demonstrated compression of the left common iliac vein by the right common iliac artery and lumbar vertebra. CT venogram demonstrated poor flow through the common iliac vein and well-developed collateral vessels. Critical stenosis at the origin of the left common iliac vein was consistent with a diagnosis of May-Thurner syndrome.     

The utility of thrombophilia testing in pregnant women with thrombosis: fact or fiction?

Women who either present with an episode of acute venous thrombosis in pregnancy or who have a history of venous thrombosis who present for prenatal care often undergo testing for inherited thrombophilia. The rationale for screening may include questions about whether screening for inherited thrombophilias can help to alter anticoagulation plans in a pregnancy complicated by venous thrombosis, whether patients with a history of venous thrombosis who present for care in a subsequent pregnancy require anticoagulation and at what intensity, whether knowledge of thrombophilia changes the duration and intensity of anticoagulation outside pregnancy, and whether screening of family members is warranted. Data regarding these issues are reviewed, controversies surrounding thrombophilia testing in this setting are discussed, and clinical recommendations are made.     

Venous thromboembolism in pregnancy

Venous thromboembolism remains a common cause of direct maternal deaths in high-income settings such as the United Kingdom. Pregnancy alone increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus at least five-fold, and many women develop or have additional risk factors for venous thrombosis during pregnancy and the puerperium, the latter representing the period of highest risk. Early and repeated risk stratification and adequate thromboprophylaxis, usually with low molecular weight heparin, is the key to preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE). Women with a past history of VTE, and those affected by thrombophilia, require multidisciplinary care involving an obstetric haematologist. Women suspected of having acute thromboembolism should be commenced on empirical treatment promptly prior to diagnostic confirmation. Pulmonary embolism should be considered as a differential diagnosis in maternal collapse.     

A case report of acute pelvic thrombophlebitis missed by magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvic veins

A 29-year-old woman presented post-natally with pulmonary hypertension. Peripheral venous thrombosis was not detected by duplex ultrasound or conventional MRI. Despite anticoagulation, the patient arrested. Autopsy revealed right iliac vein thrombosis. The ability of conventional MRI to detect acute pelvic thrombophlebitis depends on obtaining appropriate views.     

The control of severe intraoperative bleeding using an overlay autogenous tissue (OAT) patch: case reports

BACKGROUND: Severe intraoperative bleeding cannot always be controlled by standard surgical techniques. We recently reported a new technique to repair serious vascular injury using a free graft of omentum or rectus abdominus fascia as an overlay autogenous tissue (OAT) patch in the experimental sheep model. We now describe the successful clinical use of this patch in three patients. CASE REPORTS: Radical surgery was performed on three patients with pelvic malignancy with resulting uncontrollable bleeding from the internal iliac vein, pelvic side wall and paravaginal venous plexuses, respectively. Hemostasis was secured using an OAT patch made of abdominus rectus fascia in two cases and appendix epiploicae as an omental substitute in the other. DISCUSSION: The utility of the OAT patch is described in three different clinical situations. It is suggested that this technique may be especially useful to gynecologic oncologists when standard surgical techniques fail to control bleeding or there is limited access to the site of injury.     

Reservoir Repositioning and Successful Thrombectomy for Deep Venous Thrombosis Secondary to Compression of Pelvic Veins by an Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Reservoir

IntroductionWe describe a 51-year-old man with a history of radiation therapy and large bowel diversion for rectal cancer who underwent an uneventful penile implant surgery for erectile dysfunction that was refractory to conservative therapy. The patient presented with acute left lower extremity swelling and pain a few days after surgery. Workup revealed compression of the pelvic veins by the prosthesis reservoir.AimTo highlight an avoidable, adverse event related to penile prosthesis reservoirs.MethodsRetrospective review of a clinical case.ResultsThe patient underwent repositioning of the reservoir followed by venous thrombectomy and Greenfield filter placement.ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an early diagnosis and successful thrombectomy of the external iliac and common femoral vein thrombosis secondary to reservoir compression. Awareness of this possible adverse event and the management strategy are helpful to surgeons who perform penile prosthesis surgery. Brison D, Ilbeigi P, and Sadeghi-Nejad H. Reservoir repositioning and successful thrombectomy for deep venous thrombosis secondary to compression of pelvic veins by an inflatable penile prosthesis reservoir.     

Atypical abdominal pain in the first trimester of pregnancy

We report the case of a 22-year-old woman who presented a violent epigastric pain at eight-weeks gestation. Superior mesenteric vein thrombosis was detected, with an extension to portal vein and remaining blood flow. Screening for thrombophilia revealed a heterozygote prothrombin gene mutation. Portal vein thrombosis is uncommon and difficult to diagnose. Diagnosis is made by Doppler ultrasound, a second intention test to be done in case of unusual upper abdominal pain during pregnancy.     

Ovarian vein thrombosis associated with Crohn's disease: a case report

A nonpuerperal patient with Crohn's disease and pelvic pain was incidently diagnosed with ovarian vein thrombosis. The patient's laboratory data were negative for an inherited hypercoagulopathy state. Ovarian vein thrombosis is a possible cause of pelvic pain in patients with Crohn's disease. Modern imaging technology has made it easier to diagnose the once-elusive ovarian vein thrombosis.     

Internal jugular vein thrombosis as a late complication of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in an ICSI patient

Background Thromboembolism is a rare but extremely serious complication of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Case report We report a case of left internal jugular vein thrombosis, presenting as a late complication of moderate ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Conclusion Prevention of vascular thrombosis should be a part of the treatment in the setting of assisted reproductive procedures complicated with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.     

Management of Pelvic Venous Stenosis with Intravascular Stainless Steel Stents

Patients with gynecologic malignancies may develop stenosis of the large pelvic veins as a result of their disease or its treatment. The percutaneous insertion of a stainless steel vascular stent is a novel approach to the management of an extrinsically compressed vein. The objective of this study was to review the results of treating lower extremity edema secondary to a pelvic venous stenosis through the percutaneous insertion of a stainless steel vascular stent. A retrospective review was performed on gynecologic oncology patients who presented with an edematous lower extremity and underwent an evaluation to diagnose proximal venous stenosis. The evaluation included sonography, venography, and balloon angioplasty prior to the percutaneous insertion of a stainless steel vascular stent. If a venous thrombosis was documented, thrombolysis with urokinase was performed prior to evaluation for venous stenosis. Records were reviewed for the etiology of the venous stenosis, the location and type of stent inserted, and the ability of the stent to maintain patency and provide symptomatic relief. Patency was evaluated at 1-week and then at 1-, 3-, and 6-month intervals. The probability of vascular stent patency was calculated using life table analysis. Ten patients with cervical (n = 4), corpus (n = 3), ovarian (n = 1), vulvar (n = 1), and vaginal (n = 1) cancer had one or more vascular stents inserted for the treatment of a stenosed pelvic vein. The etiologies of venous stenosis were radiation fibrosis and surgery (n = 5), postoperative fibrosis (n = 3), and metastatic tumor (n = 2). The stented vessels were the left common (n = 5) or left external (n = 4) iliac veins, the right common (n = 1) or right external (n = 3) iliac veins, and the right common femoral vein (n = 1). The median follow-up was 21 months. All patients had subjective resolution of their edematous extremity while the stents were patent. The interval probability of patency of stented veins was greater than 85% at each evaluation interval. Patency was 100% for patients beyond 6 months of follow-up. There were no major complications. The percutaneous intravascular insertion of a stainless steel stent was safe and subjectively effective in the management of venous stenosis associated with a gynecologic cancer. A prospective trial with objective endpoints may be warranted.     

Diagnosis and therapy of leg and pelvic deep vein thrombosis in pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To establish differences in the management of acute thrombosis in the deep venous system associated with pregnancy in patients undergoing thrombectomy and in patients receiving heparin therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1984 to 1995 the course of pregnancy was assessed retrospectively in 26 patients with acute deep vein thrombosis. Thirteen patients underwent thrombectomy with establishment of an arteriovenous fistula and 13 patients received conservative treatment with heparin therapy. In addition to the assessment of clinical symptoms, signs of thrombosis, diagnoses established with imaging techniques and of laboratory parameters, early complications and obstetric data obtained in surgically and conservatively treated patients were compared. RESULTS: The incidence of deep vein thrombosis in the 26 patients (median age 28 years) was 0.21%. In 53.8% of the cases the occurrence of thrombosis was observed in the second trimester (median: 27.5 weeks of gestation). The presence of risk factors was demonstrated in 58% of cases. The most frequently reported symptoms were swelling of the affected leg (88.5%) and pain (61.5%). A marked predilection for the left leg was recorded in 88% of cases. In contrast to phlebography, twice the number of sonographic studies were performed. The comparison of both therapeutic regimes showed a three-fold increase in the rate of early complications in patients after thrombectomy. The rate of recurrent thrombosis in these patients was 58.3% compared to a recurrence rate of 15.4% in patients undergoing heparin therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent thrombosis and pulmonary embolism represent the most frequent complications associated with thrombosis in the deep venous system during pregnancy. Although currently there is a lack of conclusive data on the development of postthrombotic syndrome, heparin therapy appears to be associated with fewer maternal risks. Interdisciplinary cooperation is urgently needed.     

Ovarian Vein Thrombosis after Pelvic Surgery in Patient with Recent Coronavirus Disease

An abundance of literature has demonstrated that coronavirus disease (COVID-19) contributes to a hypercoagulable state that is associated with venous thromboembolic events. Data on postoperative complications after a mild COVID-19 infection are limited. We report a case of ovarian vein thrombosis after pelvic surgery in a patient with a recent mild COVID-19 infection. The patient presented with complaints of fever and worsening right-sided abdominal pain postoperatively and was found to have a right ovarian vein thrombosis. Thrombophilia workup was negative. The hypercoagulable state of patients with COVID-19 may have implications on postoperative complications after gynecologic surgery even in cases of mild infection. Further research is needed to determine the optimal thromboembolic prophylaxis for patients undergoing pelvic surgery after a COVID-19 infection.     

Pelvic vein varicosis--a treatable cause of chronic pelvic pain in women?

Ovarian vein syndrome as a morphology basis of chronic pelvic pain has been discussed by means of four case reports. The much higher prevalence of venous insufficiencies in the female may be the reason for this disease. Occlusion of insufficient genital venous plexus, especially of the ovarian veins may be a possibility for treatment. But this does not meet all considerations, this disturbance of pelvic hemodynamic may be caused by misprocessing of emotional stress situations. Therefore a careful diagnostic procedure including psychodiagnostics should be play a central role.     

在体女性骶前静脉丛数字化三维模型构建方法及意义

目的探讨利用CT血管成像(CTA)原始数据集构建在体女性骶前静脉丛数字化三维模型的方法及意义。方法 2011年9月于南方医科大学南方医院获取1例宫颈癌患者的CTA原始数据集,利用Mimics10.01软件分别对骨盆、盆腔动脉血管网及静脉血管网进行三维重建并配准融合。结果构建出的盆腔静脉血管网数字化三维模型可清晰地显示下腔静脉、髂总静脉、髂内静脉、髂外静脉及其初级属支,骶前静脉丛亦清晰可见。与重建的骨盆、盆腔动脉血管网配准融合后,骶前静脉丛的解剖走形及引流区域变得更加清晰明了。尤为关键的是,骶前无血管区也可清晰显示。结论基于CTA的数字化三维重建技术是一种研究在体女性骶前静脉丛的好方法,可清晰显示骶前静脉丛及骶前的无血管区域,从而为阴道-骶骨固定术提供个体化的解剖学依据,并有效地降低手术并发症的发生率。     

Uterine phlebography in pelvic venous stasis

Pelvic veins opacification is very helpful in the diagnosis of vascular pelvic pain. First applied to intrauterine vascularisation and hypoplasia research, hysterophlebography allow the venous side of stasis to be obvious. 1) Normally, a fine intra-parietal network draining in intrauterine peripheric vein (arcuate network) is patterned by the contrast medium. For that 4 vessels roots are leaving: 2 lumbo-ovarian pedicles joining uterine venous side und tubal veins and extending over lumbo-ovarian pedicle; 2 uterine pedicles resulting from 2 uterine veins and receiving vesical veins located in the base of broad ligament. Contrast medium empties very quickly and almost the whole uterus emptying is lasting less than 10 seconds. 2) From a pathological point of view: a) in stasis, intrauterine veins pattern features are: intra-parenchymatous pictures of dilated venous network, local alterations pictures often secondary to thrombosis (9/10 on the left side) with intra-parenchymatous stasis and oblique anastomatic main vessels characterizing uterine veins thrombosis, more than 20 seconds emptying delay. Hysterographic and phlebographic times take advantage to be paired by visualizing mucous lesions (hypoplasia and polyp. endocervical and corporeal) in intra-parenchymatous stasis phenomena. b) Extrauterine stasis signs are characterized by preferentially right pedicles dilatation. Standing in upright position enhances stasis (proclive radiographies at 70 degrees). Dilatation is particularly located at the base of the broad ligament and gives to uterine veins with wide smeets a flexuous feature with wide contasted clusters. Hence here emptying is slow and belayed.     

Trombosis de la vena ovárica con extensión a la vena cava inferior en el posparto

Ovarian vein thrombosis is a complication that can appear during the postpartum period or after pelvic surgery. This complication is a rare but serious entity requiring early diagnosis and treatment and should be suspected in patients with fever and acute abdominal pain at the beginning of the postpartum. Imaging diagnosis with contrast computed tomography remains the gold standard. Administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics and heparin therapy produces immediate clinical improvement.     

Oral contraceptives increase deep venous thrombosis in smoking women

There is consistent evidence that the use of oral contraceptives and is associated with increased risk of deep vein thrombosis. The study objective was to assess age specific incidence of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in women 20 to 50 years of age associated with the use of oral contraceptives, and smoking habit. A case-control study of vein thrombosis was conducted in National Heart Hospital in Sofia. The study consists of studies for vascular events (peripheral vascular disease) during hormonal therapy. We found that cigarette smoking aggravates venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism the in women using oral contraceptives, v. The effect of smoking alone on venous tromboembolism was not found significant. Most probably different factors that increase the incidence of vascular narrowing or occlusion might explain the association between deep venous thrombosis, complicated pulmonary thromboembolism oral contraceptives use and smoking in women in pre-menopausal age.     

Pelvic vein thrombophlebitis: diagnostic dilemma and therapeutic challenge

Pelvic vein thrombophlebitis is an unusual, but extremely serious, complication of pelvic surgery. It occurs in approximately 0.5 to 1 per cent of patients who develop operative site infections. It may present as two distinct clinical syndromes: acute ovarian vein thrombosis and diffuse thrombosis of multiple small pelvic vessels. Accurate diagnosis is hampered by the absence of a reliable, specific, and noninvasive test for the disorder. Treatment of pelvic vein thrombophlebitis requires administration of broad spectrum antibiotics, intravenous heparin, and, in selected cases, ovarian vein and vena cava ligation.