Ovarian blood flow before and after conservative laparoscopic treatment for endometrioma

Abstract

To evaluate the vascular changes in ovaries affected by endometriomas 28 women with ovarian endometriosis underwent transvaginal ultrasound with color flow imaging and blood flow analysis of the ovarian artery before and after laparoscopic conservative treatment of the ovarian cyst. Mean pulsatility index (P.I.) and resistance index (R.I.) of the ovarian artery on the side affected by endometrioma were compared using Student's t-test. Mean P.I. after laparoscopy (1.59) was significantly lower (p = 0.001) than before surgical intervention (2.17). Analogously the mean R.I. was significantly different (p = 0.001) when compared before (0.81) and after (0.73) laparoscopy. Color Doppler velocimetry may add greater understanding of the ovarian hemodynamic changes that occur after conservative surgery on the ovary.