Uterine Artery Embolization

Uterine Artery Embolization
Presentation by:Dennis DeSimone, MIV
Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Background
* Menorrhagia is a very common gynecologic complaint
* The complaint of heavy menstrual bleeding accounts for nearly 30% of all hysterectomies
Uterine Fibroids - a source of significant uterine bleeding
* Surgical management has been the standard of treatment in menorrhagia due to organic causes
o Dilatation and curettage
o Transcervical resection of the endometrium
o Endometrial ablation
o Uterine balloon therapy
o HydroThermAblator
o Hysterectomy
* Modern gynecology dictates the trend toward conservative therapy
o Cost containment
o Patient’s desire to preserve their uterus
o Evidence that nearly 50% of uterine pathology findings from hysterectomies for menorrhagia are free of disease and histopathologic abnormalities.
* Uterine artery embolization
* A relatively new approach to treating fibroid tumors.

significant improvement
* Tumors shrink by 50%
* Uterus shrinks by 40%
* Main risks:
o Pain
o Secondary
amenorrhea

Uterine artery embolization
Before and after
Methods
Results
Conclusions

* UAE has a low MAJOR complication rate
* Hospital stay, time off from work, and time until resumption of normal activities for UAE patients is reduced
* Short term minor complications of the procedure include hematoma, pain, nausea
* UAE may be a reasonable alternative to hysterectomy
References

Uterine Artery Embolization.ppt