Pain after uterine artery embolization for leiomyomata: Can its severity be predicted and does severity predict outcome?

PURPOSE: To determine whether the severity of postprocedure pain associated with uterine artery embolization (UAE) for leiomyomata can be predicted an d if its severity can predict outcome, MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-one patients underwent UAE and had postproced ure pain managed with use of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) in the form of an intravenous morphine pump, Baseline uterine and dominant fibroid vol umes were calculated for each patient. Attempted doses, doses given, total morphine dose, and maximum numerical rating scale (NRS) score during postpr ocedure hospitalization were recorded, At 3 months postprocedure, repeat im aging was used to determine uterine and dominant fibroid volume reduction. Each patient also completed a questionnaire assessing change in menstrual b leeding, pelvic pain and pressure symptoms, and satisfaction with symptomat ic outcome. Simple regression analysis was used to determine if baseline vo lumes predicted postprocedure pain and if the pain-related variables could be used to predict outcome. RESULTS: Neither baseline uterine volume nor dominant fibroid volume predic ted the severity of postprocedure pain. Similarly, none of the pain-related variables predicted uterine or fibroid volume reduction, symptomatic impro vement, or satisfaction with outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Postprocedural pain cannot be predicted based on baseline uter ine or fibroid volume and the severity of pain experienced cannot be used t o predict outcome.