Clinical Scales in Assessing Severity of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome and Treatment Outcomes

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OBJECTIVE

To study the effectiveness of visual analogue scale (VAS), Von Korff questionnaire (VKQ) and revised venous clinical severity score (rVCSS) in assessing severity of pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective cohort study included 66 female patients with PCS. We used VAS, VKQ and rVCSS to assess severity of PCS. The main parameter was pelvic venous pain. Survey was carried out before and 2 months after treatment. Phlebotropic therapy was performed in 34 patients, surgical and endovascular interventions on gonadal veins — in 32 patients.

RESULTS

VAS and VKQ contributed to objective assessment of PCS severity. PCS was more severe in patients scheduled for surgery compared to those undergoing therapy: VAS — 7.4±0.5 and 5.0±0.9 points, VKQ — 7.9±0.7 and 4.3±1.5 points, respectively. VAS and VKQ scores were similar in both groups (p=0.94). There was severe pain among postoperative patients and moderate pain in patients receiving therapeutic agents. According to VKQ scores, there was disability class 2 and 3 in patients with severe PCS and class 1 in patients with moderate PCS. The rVCSS scale is not applicable to assess severity of PCS. However, we identified mild lower extremity varicose veins in 29 patients with concomitant PCS using this scale. According to VKQ scores, therapeutic and surgical treatment was followed by significant regression of PCS and complete recovery of social activity in all patients.

CONCLUSION

VAS and VKQ are objective and convenient tools for clinical assessment of PCS and treatment outcomes. The rVCSS scale is not applicable for this purpose.

Keywords:

pelvic congestion syndrome

pelvic venous pain

visual analogue scale

Von Korff questionnaire

venous clinical severity score

Authors:

Grishenkova A.S.

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University

ORCID: 0000-0003-1344-6530

Mishakina N.Yu.

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University

ORCID: 0000-0002-3626-0299

Gavrilov S.G.

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University

SPIN RSCI: 7375-4712
Scopus AuthorID: 8312153800
ResearcherID: E-6089-2016
ORCID: 0000-0002-2307-2176

Received:

27.06.2022

Accepted:

17.10.2022

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