Treatment of pelvic varicosities causing lower abdominal pain with extraperitoneal resection of the left ovarian vein.

Fifteen women with chronic pelvic pain in whom left sided renal phlebography had demonstrated pelvic varicosities were operated upon with extraperitoneal resection of the left ovarian vein during an eight year period. At follow-up eight patients were completely cured and three were considerably improved, but in four women no improvement occurred. Mean period of follow-up was 5.6 years (range 0.5 to 8 years). All but two women were followed for at least three years. The complication rate was low. One case of wound infection and one case with bleeding from a subcutaneous artery necessitating resuture were the only complications.