Thermal balloon ablation versus endometrial resection for the treatment ofabnormal uterine bleeding

This study compares the clinical efficacy and safety of a thermal uterine b alloon system with hysteroscopic endometrial resection in the treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding. In all, 147 women were treated by two exper ienced gynaecological surgeons: one performed 73 thermal balloon ablations and the other 74 endometrial resections between November 1994 and April 199 8, The inclusion criteria were similar in both groups. The operative time w as reduced significantly with the uterine balloon technique. There were no intra-operative complications in either group and postoperative morbidities were minimal and not statistically different, Multivariate analysis noted two prognostic factors associated with failures: retroverted uterus with th ermal balloon ablation and age under 43 years with endometrial resection, T he overall success rate did not differ significantly between the two groups 83.0 +/- 5% for balloon ablation and 76.3 +/- 6% for endometrial resection , Uterine balloon ablation appears to be as efficacious as endometrial rese ction, The former is much easier to perform, making the technique readily r eproducible, especially by those with limited expertise in hysteroscopic su rgery, and thus more widely applicable and safer.