Impact of a Persistent Pelvic Pain Clinic: Emergency attendances following multidisciplinary management of persistent pelvic pain

Rachel Wilkinson; Michael Wynn-Williams; Albert Jung; Jayne Berryman; Erin Wilson

doi:10.1111/ajo.13358

Impact of a Persistent Pelvic Pain Clinic: Emergency attendances following multidisciplinary management of persistent pelvic pain

Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2021 Aug;61(4):612-615. doi: 10.1111/ajo.13358. Epub 2021 May 13.

Authors

Rachel Wilkinson^{1

2

3}, Michael Wynn-Williams^{1

4}, Albert Jung¹, Jayne Berryman⁵, Erin Wilson^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mater Health Services, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
² School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
³ Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁴ Advanced Laparoscopic Gynaecology, Auckland DHB Hospital and Health Care, Auckland, New Zealand.
⁵ Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine, Mater Health Services, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

PMID: 33984153
DOI: 10.1111/ajo.13358

Abstract

Persistent pelvic pain (PPP) is an important cause of psychological distress and productivity loss in women. In 2017, a multidisciplinary clinic was established to care for Queensland women with PPP. By analysing clinic and emergency department data, we found 19% fewer patients required any presentation to the emergency department for exacerbations of pelvic pain (P = 0.003) within 12 months of clinic attendance. There was also a reduction in number of presentations, short stay admissions and daily opiate use in regular users. The Persistent Pelvic Pain Clinic (PPPC) made a difference to these women and reduced resource burden on a busy emergency department.

Keywords: emergency; endometriosis; multidisciplinary pain clinic; pain management; pelvic pain.

MeSH terms

Emergency Service, Hospital
Endometriosis*
Female
Humans
Pain Clinics*
Pelvic Pain / etiology
Pelvic Pain / therapy
Queensland