Dolor pélvico crónico: enfoque multidisciplinario

C h ronic pelvic pain is a great challenge both for the general practitioner and the specialist, due to the complexity of the structures present in this anatomic region, their rich innervation with visceral, sympathetic and parasympathetic components; and the multiple symptomatic pictures covered by the definition. To all the above has to be added the relevant role of psychological and social aspects that may play a role in the development and perpetuation of such a pain. Thus, frequently the patient has already visited several specialists and undergone several diagnostic tests without satisfactory results. Given the complexity of these conditions, patients with c h ronic pelvic pain must be assessed with a multidisciplinary approach, including in the anamnesis an assessment of his/her family and psychosocial environment. The therapeutic attitude should be based in all the above, using all the pharmacological and psychological re s o u rces available and reserving surgery aewith laparoscopy having an increasingly relevant roleae as the last option, since its results are uncertain in such an heterogeneous group of patients. © 2000 Sociedad Espanola del Dolor. Published by Aran Ediciones, S.A.