Safety, efficacy, and prognostic factors in endovascular treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transcatheter embolization using coils for treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) and to elucidate prognostic factors for clinical success. METHODS: Data were retrospectively analyzed from 113 women with PCS who underwent endovascular embolization of ovarian and pelvic varicose veins at Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain between January 2001 and January 2011. Pain score was evaluated before and after the procedure via a visual analog scale (VAS). Associated symptoms (dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, urinary urgency, and lower limb symptoms) were also evaluated. Patients were followed up for 12 months. RESULTS: The technical and clinical success was 100%. At 12 months, 53% of patients had no pelvic pain and 47% reported a reduction in pelvic pain. The average VAS was 7.34 before the procedure and 0.47 at 12 months. Complete relief of pain and associated symptoms was achieved for 37% of patients. Urinary urgency, lower limb symptoms, and vulvar and lower limbs varicosities were prognostic factors related to incomplete treatment success. The global complication rate was low (5/113, 4.4%). CONCLUSION: Transcatheter embolization was a safe and effective treatment for PCS. Lower limb symptoms, urinary urgency, and varicosities were associated with incomplete clinical success.

Comparative study of different dosages of goserelin in size reduction of myomatous uteri.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare uterine size reduction obtained with three monthly subcutaneous injections of 3.6 mg of goserelin versus a single subcutaneous injection of 10.8 mg. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized clinical trial (Canadian Task Force classification I). SETTING: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo. PATIENTS: Forty-five premenopausal women with uterine leiomyomas and uterine size greater than 600 cm(3) randomized to one of two groups. INTERVENTION: Group A: 23 women received three monthly subcutaneous 3.6-mg doses of goserelin. Group B: 22 women received a single subcutaneous injection of 10.8 mg of goserelin. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, and hemoglobin levels were measured monthly. After 3 months, uterine size was determined by transvaginal and/or abdominal ultrasound. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In group A, mean reduction of uterine size was 43% (426 cm(3)) at the end of treatment. In Group B, mean reduction of uterine size was 54% (494 cm(3)). Serum levels of FSH and estradiol were in postmenopausal range during treatment. Hemoglobin level improvement was equivalent in both groups. CONCLUSION: Use of single injection of 10.8 mg of goserelin promoted significantly greater reduction in uterine size than three monthly 3.6-mg injections in patients with voluminous uterine leiomyomas.