Laparoscopic Appendectomy in Women Without Identifiable Pathology Undergoing Laparoscopy for Chronic Pelvic Pain

Objectives:

To assess the effectiveness of appendectomy in women undergoing laparoscopy for chronic pelvic pain without identifiable pathology.

Methods:

This retrospective cohort study included women aged 15 to 50 years who underwent laparoscopic surgery for chronic pelvic pain without identifiable pathology. The cohort was divided into 2 groups: women who underwent appendectomy and women who had not undergone appendectomy at laparoscopic surgery. Postoperative pain was assessed at 6-week follow-up and by subsequent mailed questionnaire.

Results:

Women who underwent appendectomy (n = 19) were significantly more likely to report improvement in pain at 6-week follow-up than women who did not undergo appendectomy (n = 76) (93% vs 16%; P < .001). Thirty-six patients (38%) responded to the questionnaire at a median of 4.2 years after surgery, when the median change (improvement) in reported pain was greater in the appendectomy group than in the nonappendectomy group.

Conclusion:

Appendectomy is effective therapy for patients with chronic pelvic pain of unknown etiology who are undergoing laparoscopy.