Evaluate the Long-Term Efficacy and Patient Satisfaction Following Embolization of Pelvic Congestion

Introduction: Pelvic varices are frequent, could be found in 10% of women, and 40% of them may develop pelvic congestion syndrome. The IR treatment is known to be efficient but the approaches and methods are quite different between centers and doctors, mainly to prove the effectiveness of a sequential treatment.

Method(s): A retrospective study included 246 patients embolized for SCP between 2003 and 2021 combined with cross-sectional questionnaires. All adult females who had pelvic congestion syndrome embolization in our center were included, and patients lost at follow-up were excluded. Demographic data, patient's symptoms, procedural details, assessment of patient symptom evolution compared with baseline in percentage, and occurrence of complications were documented.

Result(s): From 246 women (M = 42 years), 192 were included, 20% had previous treatment for leg varices. The main symptoms were pelvic pain in 79%, lower limb pain in 55%, and postcoital dyspareunia in 49%. A total of 505 procedures were performed (mean per patient = 2,09). Usually, the ovarian veins were embolized in the first.

Conclusion(s): The endovascular treatment of PSC is effective and safe with 80% of long-term improvement. Best results are obtained in sequential treatment with more than one session of embolization.

Publication History

Article published online:
09 February 2023