Conscious pain mapping.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To present the technique and usefulness of conscious pain mapping.

DESIGN

Prospective, observational study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

SETTING

Gynecology departments of a university-affiliated hospital and a private community hospital.

PATIENTS

Fifty consecutive women undergoing diagnostic microlaparoscopy.

INTERVENTIONS

Conscious pain mapping was performed in all 50 women.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Conscious pain mapping helped to identify foci of chronic pelvic pain. The appendix and pelvic adhesions accounted for a significant amount of pelvic pain in these women.

CONCLUSIONS

Conscious pain mapping helps to uncover sites of pelvic pain that might not be identified during traditional laparoscopy under general anesthesia.