Relief of Pain in Cancer of Pelvis

Abstract

I have briefly described two procedures which may be used to relieve intractable pelvic pain in women. One of these- pelvic sympathectomy-has proved most helpful in cases of carcinoma of the uterus, dysmenorrhoea, endometriosis, and pelvic pain of unknown aetiology. In inoperable cases of cancer pelvic neurectomy is helpful not only for the relief of pain but also as a prophylactic procedure at the time of hysterectomy. Likewise, pelvic sympathectomy is of great benefit in cases of endometriosis treated conservatively, not only because it relieves the pain but also because it apparently improves the endometriosis. Nearly all cases of severe primary dysmenorrhoea can be cured by sympathectomy, but this opera- tion should not be done until all conservative measures have proved futile. Finally, in cases subjected to a number of laparotomies without relief of pain pelvic sympathectomy will yield spectacular results.