Clinical results with the Cavaterm (TM) thermal balloon endometrial ablation technique for the treatment of menorrhagia

Endometrial ablation is an excellent therapeutic alternative to hysterectom y in the management of dysfunctional uterine bleeding. A new technique for endometrial destruction through thermal coagulation by an intrauterine cath eter with a silicone balloon (Cavaterm(TM)) was performed in 71 patients. N o complications were encountered intraoperatively and postoperatively. We h ave a follow-up of more than 6 months for 61 patients. The overall satisfac tion of the patients is good to excellent in 92% of cases. The amenorrhea r ate is 31% and the hypomenorrhea rate is 61%. Only four patients needed a s ubsequent hysterectomy, one in the case of an undiagnosed uterine malformat ion. one in the case of uterine spotting and two cases for recurrent menorr hagia, corresponding to a failure rate of 5.6%.