RESUMO
Pelvic pain is considered chronic when it present for more than six months. Chronic pelvic pain affects as many as 15 percent of women in the reproductive age group, leading to significant impairment of work and home activities. The causes of chronic pelvic pain can be either gynaecological or non-gynaecological. Gastrointestinal causes tend to be overlooked by gynaecologists and in particular the appendix which not often considered as a source of chronic pelvic pain. This paper presents a case series from the experience at the Peebles Hospital in the British Virgin Islands. Of 36 diagnostic laparoscopies performed between September 1992 and September 1997 for patients suffering from chronic pelvic pain there were 7 with appendiceal disease. Of the 7 appendices that were removed 4 showed histopathologic evidence of chronic disease. Pelvic inflammatory disease was the assessment in 3 patients and repeated courses of antibiotics had not resulted in clinical improvement. Four of the patients who had appendectomies have remained pain free since operation. Although appendiceal disease is not a common entity in chronic pelvic pain it is important that health care providers involved in the management of patients with chronic pain consider the appendix as a possible cause.(AU)
