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Acta Phlebologica 2016 April;17(1):23-6

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Pelvic congestion syndrome: how to correctly manage it today

Zaza LAZARASHVILI ¹, Pier L. ANTIGNANI ², Javier L. MONEDERO ³, Santiago Z. EZPELETA ³

¹ Chapidze Emergency Cardiovascular Center, Tbilisi, Georgia; ² Vascular Center, Nuova Villa Claudia, Rome, Italy; ³ Angiology and Vascular Surgery Unit, Ruber International Hospital, Madrid, Spain

Pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) is one of the most important causes of chronic pelvic pain in women, as a result of pathological venous flow in ovarian and pelvic veins. Ovarian vein dilatation is seen in 10% of women, with probability to develop pelvic congestion syndrome in up to 60% of this population. Ultrasound assessment of the disease is the first-line diagnostic option, but catheter-directed selected venography of pelvic veins is mandatory and ovarian vein embolization is the method of choice in the treatment of PCS. The aim of this paper is to identify and analyze the main issues in the diagnosis and treatment of PCS. The authors believe that it is crucial to create a uniform criterion to assess the effectiveness of different diagnosis and treatment options based on consensus between clinicians of various specialties, as it will allow to solve clinical and socio-economic problems in the management of PCS.