Frozen pelvis

Tskhay V.B., Polstyanoy A.M., Iptishev A.M., Khudyakov A., Friedrich M., von Westernhagen M.

1) V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia; 2) Federal Siberian Research Clinical Center under FMBA of Russia, Krasnoyarsk, Russia; 3) Private clinic «GTK-Krefeld», Krefeld, Germany; 4) Helios Klinikum fur Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Krefeld, Germany

Frozen pelvis is an informal medical term used in medical practice to describe a condition where the pelvic organs are extensively bound together by adhesions, resulting in significant disruption of their function and anatomy. Surgical treatment of this condition is challenging, even for experienced surgeons, because of the complexity of the adhesion process and resulting anatomical changes. The most common cause of frozen pelvis in gynecology is deep infiltrating endometriosis, which involves a complex interaction between inflammatory processes, tissue damage, impaired healing mechanisms, and neovascularization. The primary goal of surgical intervention is to remove adhesions, restore the pelvic anatomy, and alleviate symptoms. Successful treatment typically requires a multidisciplinary approach involving gynecologists, colorectal surgeons, urologists, and reproductive physicians to ensure optimal patient management and outcomes.
After reviewing the available literature, we found that there is a lack of domestic scientific publications on this pathology. Therefore, we conducted an analysis of the current scientific literature to provide up-to-date information on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management strategies of frozen pelvis. Additionally, we present two case studies from our own practice to illustrate the surgical treatment options for patients with a frozen pelvis.
Conclusion: Our analysis of the literature and clinical observations highlights the complexity of diagnosing and surgically treating frozen pelvis in gynecological practice. An interdisciplinary approach, individualized treatment strategies, preventive measures, and long-term monitoring are crucial for optimizing treatment outcomes and improving patient quality of life. Gynecologists who encounter this challenging condition should continually expand their knowledge and skills, exchange experience, and collaborate with other specialists to enhance diagnostics and patient management.

Authors' contributions: Tskhay V.B., Friedrich M. – conception and design of the study; Polstyanoy A.M., Iptishev A.M., Khudyakov A., von Westernhagen M. – material collection, drafting of the manuscript, review of the relevant literature; Tskhay V.B. – editing of the manuscript.
Conflicts of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding: There was no funding for this study.
Patient Consent for Publication: All patients provided informed consent for the publication of their data and associated images.
For citation: Tskhay V.B., Polstyanoy A.M., Iptishev A.M., Khudyakov A.,
Friedrich M., von Westernhagen M. Frozen pelvis.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2024; (9): 190-197 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2024.87

Keywords

frozen pelvis
adhesions
surgical gynecology
deep infiltrative endometriosis
stage IV endometriosis

References

  1. Cosma S., Ferraioli D., Carosso A., Ceccaroni M., Benedetto C. A fascial reinterpretation of the classical female pelvic surgical anatomy: seeing things from a different angle. J. Minim. Invasive Gynecol. 2021; 28(5): 940-1. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmig.2020.11.016.
  2. Neblett M.F. 2nd., Youssef Y., Khan Z. A step-by-step approach to a frozen pelvis. Fertil. Steril. 2023; 119(1): 153-4. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.10.007.
  3. Chen J., Tang X., Wang Z., Perez A., Yao B., Huang K. et al. Techniques for navigating postsurgical adhesions: insights into mechanisms and future directions. Bioeng. Transl. Med. 2023; 8(6): e10565. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/btm2.10565.
  4. Lauder C.I., Garcea G., Strickland A., Maddern G.J. Abdominal adhesion prevention: still a sticky subject? Dig. Surg. 2010; 27(5): 347-58. https://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000314805.
  5. Rinkevich Y. Identification and prospective isolation of a mesothelial precursor lineage giving rise to smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts for mammalian internal organs, and their vasculature. Nat. Cell Biol. 2012; 14(12): 1251-60. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncb2610.
  6. Fischer A., Koopmans T., Ramesh P., Christ S., Strunz M., Wannemacher J. et al. Post-surgical adhesions are triggered by calcium-dependent membrane bridges between mesothelial surfaces. Nat. Commun. 2020; 11(1): 3068. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16893-3.
  7. Tsai J.M., Sinha R., Seita J., Fernhoff N., Christ S., Koopmans T. et al. Surgical adhesions in mice are derived from mesothelial cells and can be targeted by antibodies against mesothelial markers. Sci. Transl. Med. 2018; 10(469): eaan6735. https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.aan6735.
  8. Herrick S.E., Wilm B. Post-surgical peritoneal scarring and key molecular mechanisms. Biomolecules. 2021; 11(5): 692. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biom11050692.
  9. D'Alterio M.N., D'Ancona G., Raslan M., Tinelli R., Daniilidis A., Angioni S. Management challenges of deep infiltrating endometriosis. Int. J. Fertil. Steril. 2021; 15(2): 88-94. https://dx.doi.org/10.22074/IJFS.2020.134689.
  10. Wazir H., Jain M.S., Luvsannyam E., Rayalu M., Alston C. Massive leiomyomata and severe endometriosis resulting in a frozen pelvis in an asymptomatic patient. Cureus. 2020; 12(12): e12097. https://dx.doi.org/10.7759/cureus.12097.
  11. Цхай В.Б., Khudyakov A., Terjung A., Полстяной А.М., von Westernhagen M., Avazashvili Z., Fullers U., Friedrich M., Полстяная О.Ю. Глубокий инфильтративный эндометриоз с поражением кишечника. Обзор литературы. Сибирское медицинское обозрение. 2021; 2: 5-11. [Tskhai V.B., Khudyakov A., Terjung A., Polstianoi A.M., von Westernhagen M., Avazashvili Z., Fullers U., Friedrich M., Polstyanaya O.Yu. Deep infiltrating endometriosis with bowel involvement. Literature review. Siberian Medical Review. 2021; (2): 5-11. (in Russian)]. https://dx.doi.org/10.20333/2500136-2021-2-5-11.
  12. Herrick S.E., Wilm B. Post-surgical peritoneal scarring and key molecular mechanisms. Biomolecules. 2021; 11(5): 692. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biom11050692.
  13. Fatehi Hassanabad A., Zarzycki A.N., Jeon K., Deniset J.F., Fedak P.W.M. Post-operative adhesions: a comprehensive review of mechanisms. Biomedicines. 2021; 9(8): 867. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9080867.
  14. Fatehi Hassanabad A., Zarzycki A.N., Jeon K., Dundas J.A., Vasanthan V., Deniset J.F. et al. Prevention of post-operative adhesions: a comprehensive review of present and emerging strategies. Biomolecules. 2021; 11(7): 1027. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biom11071027.
  15. Flutur I.M., Păduraru D.N., Bolocan A., Palcău A.C., Ion D., Andronic O. Postsurgical adhesions: is there any prophylactic strategy really working? J. Clin. Med. 2023; 12(12): 3931. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jcm12123931.
  16. Lay Z.M., Gonzalez G.P.C., Paredes J.S., Huang K.G., Lee C.L. Laparoscopic surgical management of an iatrogenic tubo-ovarian abscess following hysteroscopy in a sexually inexperienced female. Gynecol. Minim. Invasive Ther. 2023; 12(2): 103-4. https://dx.doi.org/10.4103/gmit.gmit_41_23.
  17. Dawood A.S., Elgergawy A.E. Incidence and sites of pelvic adhesions in women with post-caesarean infertility. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 2018; 38(8): 1158-63. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01443615.2018.1460583.
  18. Dawood A.S., Elgergawy A.E., Dawood A.S. Association between characteristics of previous cesarean delivery and pelvic adhesions: a case-controlled study. Ginekol. Pol. 2023; 94(1): 51-6. https://dx.doi.org/10.5603/GP.a2022.0120.
  19. Elgergawy A.E., Elhalwagy A.E., Salem H.A., Dawood A.S. Outcome of laparoscopic adhesiolysis in infertile patients with pelvic adhesions following cesarean delivery: a randomized clinical trial. J. Gynecol. Obstet. Hum. Reprod. 2021; 50(5): 101969. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jogoh.2020.101969.
  20. Podder A.R., Seshadri J.G. Frozen pelvis: how to proceed? In: Podder A.R., Seshadri J.G. Atlas of difficult gynecological surgery. Springer, Singapore; 2020: 71-6. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-8173-7_4.
  21. Loftus T.J., Morrow M.L., Lottenberg L., Rosenthal M.D., Croft C.A., Smith R.S. et al. The impact of prior laparotomy and intra-abdominal adhesions on bowel and mesenteric injury following blunt abdominal trauma. World J. Surg. 2019; 43(2): 457-65. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00268-018-4792-6.
  22. Dong X., Yuan L., Yao L. Retrograde hysterectomy approach in a patient with a frozen pelvis due to a suspected ovarian malignancy. Int. J. Gynecol. Cancer. 2023; 33(1): 128-9. https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ijgc-2022-003363.
  23. Wang R., Yan Z. Modular pelvic exenteration for advanced rectal cancer in frozen pelvis. Am. J. Case Rep. 2023; 24: e941684. https://dx.doi.org/10.12659/AJCR.941684.
  24. Leuenberger J., Schwartz A.S., Geraedts K., Haeberlin F., Eberhard M., von Orellie S. et al. Living with endometriosis: comorbid pain disorders, characteristics of pain and relevance for daily life. Eur. J. Pain. 2022; 26(5): 1021-38. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ejp.1926.
  25. Abd El-Kader A.I., Gonied A.S., Mohamed M.L., Mohamed S.L. Impact of endometriosis-related adhesions on quality of life among infertile women. Int. J. Fertil. Steri. 2019; 13(1): 72-6. https://dx.doi.org/10.22074/ijfs.2019.5572.
  26. Inácio W., Leite S., Stangarlini Rivas C.E., Salgado R., Vieira Couto B., Sadatsune JUN E. et al. Unfreeze the frozen pelvis: the safe technique. J. Minim. Invasive Gynecol. 2020; 27(7): S144. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmig.2020.08.281.
  27. Souza C.A., Hajar F., Menegatti J.E., Crispi C.P., Pazello R.T., Romagna G.F. Tips and tricks for deep endometriosis in the frozen pelvis. J. Minim. Invasive Gynecol. 2021; 28(11): S150-S151. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmig.2021.09.299.
  28. Working group of ESGE, ESHRE and WES. Recommendations for the surgical treatment of endometriosis. Part 2: deep endometriosis. Facts Views Vis. Obgyn. 2019; 11(4): 269-97.
  29. Kargozar S., Gorgani S., Nazarnezhad S., Wang A.Z. Biocompatible nanocomposites for postoperative adhesion: a state-of-the-art review. Nanomaterials (Basel). 2023; 14(1): 4. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nano14010004.
  30. Liu H., van Steensel S., Gielen M., Vercoulen T., Melenhorst J., Winkens B. et al. Comparison of coated meshes for intraperitoneal placement in animal studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hernia. 2020; 24(6): 1253-61. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10029-019-02071-y.
  31. Hu M., Lin X., Huang R., Yang K., Liang Y., Zhang X. et al. Lightweight, highly permeable, biocompatible, and antiadhesive composite meshes for intraperitoneal repairs. Macromol. Biosci. 2018; 18(7): e1800067. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mabi.201800067.
  32. Pellerin M., Faller É., Calabre C., Boisramé T., Lecointre L., Akladios C. Frozen pelvis surgical strategy in 10 steps. J. Minim. Invasive Gynecol. 2020; 27(7): 1473. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmig.2020.02.003.
  33. Алиева П.М., Думановская М.Р., Солопова А.Е., Сметник А.А., Чупрынин В.Д., Павлович С.В. Особенности течения ретроцервикального эндометриоза. Акушерство и гинекология. 2024; 2: 157-64. [Alieva P.M., Dumanovskaya M.R., Solopova A.E., Smetnik A.A., Chuprynin V.D., Pavlovich S.V. The features of the course of retrocervical endometriosis. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2024; (2): 157-64. (in Russian)]. https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2023.222.
  34. Ткаченко Л.В., Свиридова Н.И., Веровская Т.А., Хохлова Р.Р. Профилактика спаечной болезни как этап ранней реабилитации репродуктивной функции после миомэктомии. Акушерство и гинекология. 2019; 1: 118-24. [Tkachenko L.V., Sviridova N.I., Verovskaya T.A., Khokhlova R.R. Prevention of peritoneal adhesions as a stage of early rehabilitation of reproductive function after myomectomy. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2019; (1): 118-24. (in Russian)]. https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2019.1.118-124.
  35. Maicas G., Leonardi M., Avery J., Panuccio C., Carneiro G., Hull M.L. et al. Deep learning to diagnose pouch of Douglas obliteration with ultrasound sliding sign. Reprod. Fertil. 2021; 2(4): 236-43. https://dx.doi.org/10.1530/RAF-21-0031.

Received 09.04.2024

Accepted 15.07.2024

About the Authors

Vitaly B. Tskhay, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Head of the Department of Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Medical Faculty, Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk SMU, Ministry of Health of Russia, 660022, Russia, Krasnoyarsk, P. Zheleznyak str., 1; Scientific Director for Obstetrics and Gynecology, FSRCC FMBA of Russia, +7(923)287-21-34, tchai@yandex.ru
Aleksey M. Polstyanoy, PhD (Med.), Head of the Gynecological Department, FSRCC FMBA of Russia, 660037, Russia, Krasnoyarsk, Kolomenskaya str., 26, +7(902)917-79-97, al-polstyanoy@yandex.ru
Alexander M. Iptishev, Resident of the Department of Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Medical Faculty, V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk SMU, Ministry of Health of Russia, 660022, Russia, Krasnoyarsk, P. Zheleznyak str., 1, +7(923)369-88-24, alexandriptishev@gmail.com
Alexander Khudyakov, Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Private clinic «GTK- Krefeld», 47800, Germany, Krefeld, Violstraße 92, +10(49)17623243098, khudyakov@gtk-krefeld.de
Michael Friedrich, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Chief Physician of the Perinatal Center, Gynecological Oncological Center, Center of Operative Gynecology, Helios Medical Center, 47805, Krefeld Germany, Lutherplatz 40, +10(49)2151322201, michael.friedrich@helios-kliniken.de
Michael von Westernhagen, Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Private clinic «GTK- Krefeld», 47800, Germany, Krefeld, Violstraße 92, westernhagen@gtk-krefeld.de

Similar Articles

By continuing to use our site, you consent to the processing of cookies that ensure the proper functioning of the site.