ENDOMETRIAL ABLATION BY HYSTEROSCOPIC INSTILLATION OF HOT SALINE SOLUTION

Current methods of endometrial ablation to treat excessive uterine ble eding use laser or electrosurgical energy sources. These procedures ar e highly skill dependent, and numerous cases of fluid overload as well as other complications have been reported. A new method of endometria l ablation instills heated 0.9% normal saline at 80 to 90 degrees C. T he fluid is recirculated and therefore, it is possible to measure accu rately and predetermine the maximum amount of allowable absorption tha t occurs. Animal data indicate that the procedure is effective and may be safer than current methods of endometrial ablation. Standardizatio n of this new method will require clinical trials, initially with wome n undergoing hysterectomy, for proper evaluation of the extent of ther mal damage in relation to the time and intensity of heat exposure.