Correlation between pelvic congestion syndrome and body mass index.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies of men suggested that patients with varicocele may be leaner than the normal population. No such work exists in women with pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS). This study evaluated the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and PCS. METHODS: A case-control study at a single institution was performed of women who had the objective diagnosis of PCS. Data were prospectively collected for 100 consecutive patients with PCS. BMI was calculated for every patient and categorized into normal weight (BMI <25), overweight (BMI 25-29.9), and obese (BMI >30). Diagnosis of PCS was made by ultrasound and venography. Mean BMI was compared with that of the general female population of the United States from 1999 to 2002. Furthermore, analyses included comparison of patients with and without ovarian vein dilation and pelvic varices. RESULTS: There were 100 women with a median age of 44 years (range, 24-73 years). The mean BMI of the study group was 25 ± 5.6 kg/m2. The cohort was categorized into 59 women with normal BMI, 23 overweight women, and 18 obese women. The study cohort's BMI was less than that of the general U.S. female population (P = .02). The majority of the study group were white with lower BMI (P < .0001). Leg varicosities were more prevalent in obese patients (100% obese vs 81% normal BMI; P = .01). Patients with ovarian vein dilation had significantly lower BMI (24.1 ± 5.6 kg/m2 and 26.7 ± 5.4 kg/m2; P = .036). No differences were identified for pelvic varices or reflux. CONCLUSIONS: Women with PCS are more likely to have a normal BMI with ovarian vein dilation compared with obese women, who are more frequently affected by leg varicosities.

Endovascular Treatment of a Complex Renal Artery Aneurysm Using Coils and the Pipeline Embolization Device in a Patient with a Solitary Kidney.

BACKGROUND: We report a case of endovascular treatment of a complex renal artery aneurysm using the Pipeline Embolization Device, a flow diverting stent which is indicated for the treatment of large and giant cerebral aneurysms. METHODS: A forty-year-old female with medically refractory hypertension and congenital agenesis of the right kidney was found to have a 2.8-cm left superior renal artery branch aneurysm. The patient was treated successfully using the Pipeline Embolization Device (Medtronic, Irvine, CA) with coil embolization of the aneurysm and of one outflow vessel. RESULTS: On 3-year follow-up, her renal function was normal, vascular imaging showed complete occlusion of the aneurysm, and physiological remodeling of the reconstructed artery and parenchymal imaging showed no evidence of renal infarction. CONCLUSION: Flow diverting stents are a valuable treatment option for visceral aneurysms with complex anatomy.

Early and Late Endograft Limb Proximal Migration with Resulting Type 1b Endoleak following an EVAR for Ruptured AAA.

Introduction. Seal zone failure after EVAR leads to type 1 endoleaks and increases the risk of delayed aortic rupture. Type 1b endoleaks, although rare, represent a true risk to the repair. Case Presentation. We report the case of a 65-year-old female who underwent emergent endovascular repair for a ruptured infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and developed bilateral type 1b endoleaks following proximal migration of both endograft limbs. The right-side failure was diagnosed within 48 hours from the initial repair and the left side at the 1-year follow-up. Both sides were successfully treated with endovascular techniques. A review of the literature with an analysis of potential risk factors is also reported. Conclusion. For patients undergoing EVAR for ruptured AAA and with noncalcified iliac arteries, more aggressive oversizing of the iliac limbs is recommended to prevents distal seal zone failures.

A standardized ultrasound approach to pelvic congestion syndrome.

Pelvic congestion syndrome is one of the many causes of chronic pelvic pain and is often diagnosed based on exclusion of other pathologies. Over the past decades, pelvic congestion syndrome was recognized to be a more common cause of chronic pelvic pain. Multiple diagnostic modalities including pelvic duplex ultrasonography, transvaginal ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance were studied. In the current literature, selective ovarian venography, an invasive imaging approach, is believed to be the gold standard for diagnosing pelvic congestion syndrome.

Changes in the rate of prophylactic vena cava filter insertion at a university hospital.

OBJECTIVE: We previously demonstrated a high rate of prophylactic vena cava filter (VCF) insertion at our institution. We have since attempted to restrict the use of VCF to indications supported by Level-I evidence. This study was designed to evaluate the success of our interventions. METHODS: All patients receiving VCF between 2007-2009 and 2012-2014 at a university hospital were reviewed. After assessing the use of VCF in the first period, a meeting was convened among the Departments of Radiology, Vascular Surgery and Trauma. Policy was implemented to avoid the inappropriate use of VCF. Data were prospectively collected in the second period to assess the effect of our intervention. RESULTS: There were 156 VCF placed from 2012 to 2014. VCF was absolutely indicated in 84% of cases, relatively indicated in 9% and prophylactic in 7%. These data contrast our previous experience from 2007 to 2009. In the earlier series, a total of 244 filters were placed, in which 54% of patients had an absolute indication, 14% relative, and 32% prophylactic. There was a significant decrease in filters placed for pure prophylaxis: whereas 76 prophylactic filters were placed between 2007 and 2009, only 11 were placed between 2012 and 2014 (p < 0.0001). No significant differences existed for relatively indicated filters. The department of trauma and surgical critical care (TSCC) observed the most dramatic change in practice. TSCC placed 61 prophylactic VCF between 2007 and 2009 (57% of all filters placed by the department), and 4 prophylactic VCF from 2012 to 2014 (15% of filters placed by TSCC) (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate a significant change in the attitudes regarding prophylactic VCF insertion between the two periods of study. Further investigations must be performed to assess changes in clinical outcomes that may result from the altered practice at our university.

The role of duplex ultrasound in the workup of pelvic congestion syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) imaging workup algorithms are not well-defined. The purpose of our study is to gauge the impact and accuracy of duplex ultrasound (DU) to assist in the diagnosis of PCS. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 48 patients with PCS seen at a vein center from June 2010 to June 2012. All patients had DU plus either computed tomography venography (CTV) or conventional venography (CV). Measurements of the left (LOV) and right ovarian vein (ROV) diameter and the presence or absence of ovarian vein reflux were obtained using DU and compared with either CTV or CV to assess sensitivity and specificity. An ovarian vein diameter >6 mm was considered abnormal. RESULTS: All patients were female (29 Caucasians, 18 Hispanic, and 1 Asian). The mean number of pregnancies was 3 (range, 1-5). All patients had lower extremity varicose veins, and 14 (29%) had vulvar varicosities. Thirty-four (71%) patients reported pelvic pain, 22 (46%) dyspareunia, 2 (4%) dysuria, and 1 (2%) hematuria. The median diameter of the LOVs and ROVs measured using DU compared with either CTV/CV were similar (DU, 8.6 and 5.6; CTV/CV, 8.3 and 6). The sensitivity and specificity of DU to demonstrate a dilated LOV were 100% and 57%, and for the ROV were 67% and 90%. Pelvic varicosities were identified in all but one patient with good correlation between DU and CV. CONCLUSIONS: DU has a high sensitivity to identify an abnormal LOV diameter that is greatly reduced when evaluating the ROV; however, the latter can be evaluated with another imaging modality such as CTV especially when DU results are equivocal or negative. A moderate specificity was found to determine both LOV and ROV abnormal diameters. All three imaging modalities are equally accurate to show the presence of pelvic varices.