Clinical utility of pelvic pain mapping.
OBJECTIVE
To survey physicians' opinions concerning the impact of pelvic pain mapping on clinical management and surgical decisions.


METHODS
Opinions of physicians based on clinical experience (Canadian Task Force classification III).


METHODS
Evening meetings appended to two national meetings.


RESULTS
After viewing videotaped interviews, physical examinations, standard laparoscopy, and pelvic pain mapping at laparoscopy in two patients, practicing gynecologists completed questionnaires recording their opinions about the utility of pelvic pain mapping. A second group of gynecologists viewed only one tape. The first group considered pain mapping to be moderately or extremely useful (patient 1, 57.9%; patient 2, 73.7%). Mapping data either made surgeons change the surgical procedure they would have chosen or further clarified the diagnosis (patient 1, 68.4%; patient 2, 84.2%). Of the second group of 67 surgeons, 73% thought that mapping results would have made them change their surgical approach.


CONCLUSIONS
In appropriate cases, pelvic pain mapping during microlaparoscopy under conscious sedation can provide information that may influence surgical decisions as well as general clinical management.
Steege
J F
JF
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill CB 7570, CB #7570, MacNider Building, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7570, USA.
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology