Interventional treatment of pelvic stasis syndrome and tubal recanalization

  Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS), also known as Ovarian Vein Syndrome (OVS), is a unique disease caused by chronic pelvic venous blood outflow, pelvic vein filling and stasis. It is a clinical syndrome with chronic pelvic pain as the main symptom, and the severity of the disease is positively correlated with the nature of the pain. It is easily misdiagnosed as gynecological inflammatory disease and has poor treatment outcome. The incidence of PCS is 52-92% in patients complaining of lower abdominal pain without positive signs and about 80% in patients with positive signs [70].PCS was first proposed by Richet in 1857 as a result of ovarian varicose veins, and any factor that impairs or obstructs pelvic venous outflow can lead to pelvic venous stasis. The characteristic symptoms are “three pains, two more, and one less”, i.e. lower abdominal pain, low back pain, painful intercourse; more menstrual flow, more vaginal discharge; and less positive signs in gynecological examination. The diagnosis can be confirmed by auxiliary examinations including ultrasound (preferred), CT, MRI, venography, laparoscopy, etc. Currently, pelvic venography or selective ovarian venography is considered to be the “gold standard” for the diagnosis of PCS.  The main treatment methods are pharmacological and surgical, the main pharmacological treatment is progestogen therapy, surgical treatment includes: 1, uterine suspension and fundal ligament shortening, suitable for patients with posterior uterus who require preservation of reproductive function, by changing the position of the uterus, improve pelvic stasis to achieve the purpose of relieving symptoms.  2. Broad ligament fascial repair: for young PCS patients due to broad ligament laceration.  3. Ligation and/or resection of the ovarian vein: the efficiency of laparoscopic titanium clamping of bilateral ovarian veins can reach 78%.  4.Total hysterectomy with or without bilateral adnexal resection: Due to the presence of pelvic vascular rich traffic branches, simple hysterectomy without bilateral adnexal resection may not completely cut off the vascular traffic, so the efficacy of treatment for PCS is not satisfactory. The remission rate of hormone therapy after surgical resection is up to 67%, and the recurrence rate after surgery is 20%, which is considered to be related to the multifactorial pathogenesis of PCS. The efficacy of progestin therapy is inaccurate, and the symptoms tend to recur in patients after discontinuation of the drug, and the surgery is more invasive and has many postoperative complications. Using an interventional radiological approach, embolization of bilateral ovarian veins has the same effect as ovarian vein ligation with less damage, high success rate and obvious symptom relief, which is an ideal treatment method, while embolization of ovarian vein embolization brings little impact of psychological stress, especially for emotionally stressed and sensitive patients. Surgical removal should be the last option for PCS patients.  Tubal recanalization The female factor accounts for 60% of infertility, the male factor accounts for 30%, and both male and female factors account for 10%.  Female infertility excludes ovulation disorders, uterine factors, cervical factors, vaginal factors and chromosomal abnormalities in both spouses, and boils down to tubal factors – tubal obstruction, which is feasible for interventional treatment.  Tubal obstruction, using medical equipment to diagnose tubal mucosal and intraluminal lesions under direct vision, has become the “gold standard” for the diagnosis of tubal infertility [71]. For tubal adhesions or mild stenosis, the recanalization rate is high and the postoperative pregnancy rate is also high; however, for tubal atresia, the recanalization rate is high but the postoperative pregnancy rate is not satisfactory, and the cost and technical requirements are high, so it is not widely used in China. selective salpingography (SSG) under direct X-ray fluoroscopy is not widely used in China. The technique is not widely used in China. Selective salpingography (SSG) is used for obstruction of all fallopian tubes and is both an examination and a treatment method. It is simple and less expensive. Contraindications: obstruction of the distal part of the jugular abdomen and umbilical end (suitable for laparoscopic plastic surgery); severe occlusion of the uterine horn, reobstruction after ligation of the tubal anastomosis; tuberculous tubal obstruction with severe heart failure; active tuberculosis; acute inflammatory fever of the reproductive organs; menstrual period and iodine allergy.  The time was chosen to be 3-7 days after menstrual cleansing, and the device was chosen to be CookFTC-900 vacuum coaxial catheter guidewire system. The drugs included contrast agent, saline, gentamicin, chymotrypsin, dexamethasone, etc. Method: supine truncated position, perineal disinfection and towel laying, catheter in the hysterogram, showing the morphology and position of the uterine cavity and horn, if the contrast agent enters the pelvic cavity smoothly, it indicates recanalization, and tubal lavage treatment is feasible; if the tubal obstruction, such as interstitial or isthmus obstruction, coaxial micro-catheter micro-guide wire to perform tubal recanalization.  SSG and FTR is a simple, safe, economical and effective method for the treatment of tubal obstruction, and its recanalization rate and conception rate are obviously improved, which brings great hope to patients with tubal infertility. The success rate of tubal intubation is 92-96%, the success rate of recanalization is 89-92.6%, and the conception rate is 23-41%, which is related to the easy adhesion of fallopian tubes after surgery. Complications include: tubal perforation, endometrial damage, uterine infection, lower abdominal pain, small amount of vaginal bleeding, and allergic reaction (very rare).