D. Delavierre

Approche symptomatique des douleurs sexuelles chroniques

OBJECTIVE To colligate the clinical and ethiopathogenical elements to take into account in the assessment of sexual activity-related chronic pelvic and perineal pain, in the male as well as in the female subject. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Review of articles and consensus conferences published on this subject in the Medline (Pubmed) database, selected according to their scientific relevance. RESULTS In the female subject, only dyspareunia has benefitted from a consensual definition. Deep dyspareunia must start investigations in search of pelvic organs disorders, endometriosis, painful bladder syndrome adhesions. Superficial dyspareunia can be a part of provoked vestibulodynia. Vaginismus can be linked to a local disorder, but can also be caused by an excess of nociception. In the male subject, painful ejaculation must start investigation in search of a local urological disorder. It can also be of iatrogenous origin, or be included in a chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Although less documented, other pelvic and perineal pain syndrome, coitus-related or not, exist in the male subject. CONCLUSION Assessment of these sexual dysfunctions is primarily based on history taking and clinical examination. In the absence of systematically researched organic disorder, these pains can be part of functional disorders, in which case a global assessment must be undergone, by taking into account all aspects of the pain, including emotional aspects.

Approche globale des douleurs pelvipérinéales chroniques : du concept de douleur d’organe à celui de dysfonctionnement des systèmes de régulation de la douleur viscérale

OBJECTIVE Analysis of complex pelvic and perineal pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS Review of the literature concerning the various types of functional pelvic pain. RESULTS Various forms of pelvic pain are frequently associated: painful bladder syndrome (interstitial cystitis), irritable bowel syndrome, endometriosis pain, vulvodynia, chronic pelvic pain syndrome (chronic prostatitis). Pelvic pain is often associated with fibromyalgia or complex regional pain syndrome (reflex sympathetic dystrophy). The pathophysiological mechanisms involved in these syndromes are all very similar, suggesting a triggering element, neurogenic inflammation, reflex muscular and autonomic responses, central hypersensitization, emotional reactions and biopsychosocial consequences. DISCUSSION The concept of visceral pain is evolving and, in practice, complex pelvic pain can comprise neuropathic components, complex regional pain syndrome components, hypersensitization components, and emotional components closely resembling posttraumatic stress syndrome. CONCLUSIONS When pain cannot be explained by an organ disease, the pain must be considered to be expressed via this organ. Chronic pelvic and perineal pain can become self-perpetuating and identification of its various mechanisms can allow the proposal of individually tailored treatments.

Les infiltrations des nerfs somatiques dans la prise en charge thérapeutique des douleurs pelvipérinéales chroniques

INTRODUCTION Chronic pelvic and perineal pain can be related to a nerve lesion caused by direct or indirect trauma or by an entrapment syndrome, which must then be demonstrated by a test block. The purpose of this article is to review the techniques and modalities of somatic nerve block in the management of chronic pelvic and perineal pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS A review of the literature was performed by searching PubMed for articles on somatic nerve infiltrations in the management of chronic pelvic and perineal pain. RESULTS Nerves involved in pelvic and perineal pain are: thoracolumbar nerves (obturator, ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric and genitofemoral) and sacral nerves (pudendal and inferior cluneal branches of the posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh). Infiltration has a dual objective: to confirm the diagnostic hypothesis by anaesthetic block and to try to relieve pain. Evaluation of the severity and site of the pain before and immediately after the test block is essential for interpretation of the block. The various infiltration techniques for each nerve are described together with their respective advantages, disadvantages and risk of complications. CONCLUSION Somatic nerve blocks are an integral part of the management of chronic pelvic and perineal pain and are predominantly performed under CT guidance in order to be as selective as possible. Once the diagnosis and the level of the nerve lesion have been defined, more specific therapeutic procedures can then be proposed.

Endométriose et douleurs pelvipérinéales chroniques

OBJECTIVES To analyse pathophysiology and clinical symptoms of chronic pelvic pain and their therapeutic care. MATERIAL AND METHODS Review of articles and consensus conferences published on this subject in the Medline(®) (PubMed(®)) database. RESULTS Pain importance and endometriosis lesion size are somewhat linked. In the case of chronic pains, endometriosis lesions are not always the only cause of the pain. Imaging consists mostly of MRI and transvaginal ultrasonography. Treatment must be offered to patients with painful endometriosis. Hormonal treatment meant to cause amenorrhea is recommended to improve dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and chronic pains. Endometriosis should be confirmed by pathological or surgical findings, before prolonged treatment is undergone. Prolonged postoperative amenorrhea significantly decreases pain and lesion relapse. Surgical treatment is effective on painful symptoms and is recommended in the event of painful endometriosis. Undergoing surgery is recommended only if individual benefit exceeds risk. CONCLUSIONS Surgical treatment should aim at improving symptoms rather than systematically removing every endometriosis lesion. Diagnosis of endometriosis lesion at an early stage is currently a major part of public health policy.

Symptomatic approach to chronic pudendal pain

INTRODUCTION Pudendal neuralgia is a recently identified and now clearly recognized clinical entity. This chronic disabling pain is due to a pelviperineal tunnel syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS Review of the literature based on a Medline search of articles devoted to this subject. RESULTS The diagnosis is purely clinical, based on simple consensual criteria (Nantes Criteria): pain situated in the anatomical territory of the pudendal nerve, worse on sitting, not usually waking the patient at night, not accompanied by any objective perineal sensory loss with a positive anaesthetic block of the pudendal nerve at the ischial spine. CONCLUSION The diagnosis of pudendal neuralgia is straightforward when the patients symptoms remain confined to these diagnostic criteria, which are all essential for the diagnosis. However, the patient often presents associated urinary, anorectal, sexual, neuromuscular and hypersensitization signs, which can complicate the diagnostic approach and therapeutic management.

Traitements médicamenteux dans la prise en charge thérapeutique des douleurs pelvipérinéales chroniques

INTRODUCTION Chronic pelvic and perineal pain is a common compliant due to a wide range of causes. The treatment strategy obviously depends on the identified aetiologies, which constitute the main target of treatment. However, pain often becomes self-perpetuating with time, generating and feeding on the social and functional consequences, resulting in a specific disease: chronic pain or pathological pain. OBJECTIVES To define the place of drug treatment in the management of chronic pelvic and perineal pain. METHODS Review of the literature devoted to drug treatments. RESULTS Drugs have an inevitable place in the treatment strategy, but their role is poorly known and they are rarely completely effective. Drugs can only be part of the treatment of these syndromes and can only be prescribed in the context of a predefined strategy. Other treatment modalities are also available and often essential: physiotherapy, global management, TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), surgery, neuromodulation (peripheral, spinal cord, cortex stimulation, intrathecal infusion). As in chronic neuropathic pain, the analgesic drugs proposed in chronic pelvic and perineal pain mainly consist of tramadol, antidepressants and antiepileptics. CONCLUSION The limited number of specific randomized clinical trials, the sometimes insufficient efficacy of drug treatments, associated with significant adverse effects, the very disabling nature of this disease, and the frequent need for off-label prescription indicate the need for effective multidisciplinary management.

Approche symptomatique des douleurs épididymo-testiculaires chroniquesEpididymal and testicular chronic pain

OBJECTIVE To list clinical and ethiopathogenical elements relevant to the analysis of an epididymal and testicular pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS Review of published articles on the subject in the Medline(®) (PubMed(®)) database, selected according to their scientific relevance. RESULTS Assessment of a chronic epididymal and testicular pain is mostly clinical and should: (1) eliminate local urological disorder; (2) suggest a neurological problem, based on signs and semiology; (3) suggest injury of nervous truncus according to medical history and scars; (4) detect referred pains, primarily back and thoracolumbar pains. The causal link between epididymal cysts, surgical aftereffect, local infection and chronic epididymal and testicular pain is not established with certainty. Spermatic cord nerve block, as a diagnostic test, should be done before undergoing any invasive procedure. CONCLUSION The fundamental notion is being able to distinguish epididymal and testicular pain and scrotal pain, because the testis has an abdominal origin, and therefore a sympathetic instead of sacral innervation. An absence evident somatic or iatrogenous cause should suggest hypersensibility to pain. Assessment of an epididymal and testicular pain requires a global clinical examination, which should take into account every aspect of the pain, including its functional and emotional components.

Approche symptomatique des douleurs épididymo-testiculaires chroniques

OBJECTIVE To list clinical and ethiopathogenical elements relevant to the analysis of an epididymal and testicular pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS Review of published articles on the subject in the Medline(®) (PubMed(®)) database, selected according to their scientific relevance. RESULTS Assessment of a chronic epididymal and testicular pain is mostly clinical and should: (1) eliminate local urological disorder; (2) suggest a neurological problem, based on signs and semiology; (3) suggest injury of nervous truncus according to medical history and scars; (4) detect referred pains, primarily back and thoracolumbar pains. The causal link between epididymal cysts, surgical aftereffect, local infection and chronic epididymal and testicular pain is not established with certainty. Spermatic cord nerve block, as a diagnostic test, should be done before undergoing any invasive procedure. CONCLUSION The fundamental notion is being able to distinguish epididymal and testicular pain and scrotal pain, because the testis has an abdominal origin, and therefore a sympathetic instead of sacral innervation. An absence evident somatic or iatrogenous cause should suggest hypersensibility to pain. Assessment of an epididymal and testicular pain requires a global clinical examination, which should take into account every aspect of the pain, including its functional and emotional components.

Les techniques de neurostimulations dans la prise en charge thérapeutique des douleurs pelvipérinéales chroniques

INTRODUCTION Neuromodulation is a nonspecific analgesic treatment whose mechanism of action has not yet been elucidated. The purpose of this article is to review the techniques and results of neuromodulation in the management of chronic pelvic and perineal pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS A comprehensive review of the literature was performed by searching PUBMED for articles on the various neuromodulation techniques used in the management of chronic pelvic and perineal pain. RESULTS Several levels of neuromodulation of the somatic nervous system have been evaluated in the management of pelvic pain: transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), percutaneous nerve stimulation (PNS), nerve root or nerve trunk stimulation, spinal cord stimulation. An improvement was obtained in an average of two thirds of cases, but with declining efficacy over time. The various studies were difficult to compare due to the heterogeneous study populations and very diverse endpoints. Interesting studies on the value of autonomic nervous system intervention have been described, but with no specific trials of neuromodulation. CONCLUSION The place of neuromodulation in the management of patients with chronic pelvic and perineal pain has yet to be defined, as it is too frequently used as a last resort. It appears important to develop and analyse this treatment modality in large-scale, randomized, prospective studies.

Prise en charge thérapeutique des douleurs pelvipérinéales chroniques postopératoires d’origines nerveuses somatiques pariétales

INTRODUCTION All surgical procedures require an incision with a risk of nerve damage at the site of the scar or as a result of fibrotic scar tissue. The purpose of this article is to describe the management of chronic postoperative pelvic and perineal pain due to parietal somatic nerve damage. PATIENTS AND METHODS A comprehensive review of the literature was performed by searching PUBMED for articles on the management of chronic postoperative pelvic and perineal pain due to parietal somatic nerve damage. RESULTS Postoperative lesions of parietal somatic nerves (ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, genitofemoral, pudendal, obturator, femoral) are frequent after pelvic surgery. Clinical examination of the scars (trigger zone) and detailed analysis of the topography and type of pain are essential elements in the analysis of this pain. Infiltration of local anaesthetic at the trigger point or along the nerve has a diagnostic value. Corticosteroid infiltrations and minimally invasive treatments such as pulsed radiofrequency have provided more or less lasting improvement of the symptoms. Surgical nerve release together with resection of fibrosis and removal of prosthetic material provides good long-term results. The surgical approach depends on the nerve concerned and the level of the lesion. CONCLUSION The management of chronic postoperative pelvic and perineal pain due to parietal somatic nerve damage is based on local infiltration of anaesthetics and corticosteroids. Nerve release surgery with resection of fibrosis provides the best long-term results.