Hydrothermal ablation of the endometrium in patients with recurrent menorrhagia: Early experience

Objective: Hydrothermal ablation of the endometrium is a simple new method to coagulate the endometrium in patients with recurrent menorrhagia. We rep ort our early experience with this techniqe. Methods: 18 patients underwent coagulation of the endometrium with physiolo gic saline solution heated to 90 degrees C. Follow-up was 12 months. Results: At 12 months, 17 patients (94 %) had reduced menstrual flow and 9 were amenorrhoic. Conclusion: Hydrothermal endometrial ablation seems a useful procedure. In contrast to balloon techniques, hydrothermal ablation is carried out under hysteroscopic visualization and the endometrium in the uterine cornua can b e coagulated completely. Further studies comparing hydrothermal ablation wi th endometrial ablation by laser or electrosurgery are warranted.