ENDOMETRIAL LASER INTERSTITIAL HYPERTHERMY - A POTENTIAL MODALITY FORENDOMETRIAL ABLATION

This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an in trauterine device designed for endometrial ablation by Nd-YAG laser in terstitial hyperthermy. Eight hysterectomy specimens were treated in v itro with an output power of 30 W for 5 minutes; tissue temperatures, recorded by thermocouples, were plotted to draw time-temperature and t ime-distance curves. As a preliminary series, ten patients were treate d, with the first five subjected to local temperature monitoring; all ten were followed-up for 6-17 months. Immediate and delayed (6 weeks) histologic data were obtained. The intramural temperature at 6 mm from the fibers ranged from 55-60C). In vivo, the cooling effect of the ar terial blood now lowered the serosal temperatures under 41C. The histo logic data and the hysterographic pictures suggest that endometrial ab lation was effective. This new device does not require distending medi um, hysteroscopic control, or high-powered Nd-YAG laser machines. Prel iminary long-term results suggest that the device could be used for en dometrial ablation.