Uterine artery embolization of symptomatic uterine fibroids - Initial success and short-term results

Purpose: To evaluate reduction in fibroid volume, the effect on clinical sy mptoms, adverse events and complications after percutaneous uterine artery embolization (UAE) as primary invasive treatment for symptomatic uterine fi broids. Material and Methods. Sixty-two patients entered the study. Indications for treatment were fibroid-induced menorrhagia, bulk symptoms, pain, and/or la rge fibroid size. The first 50 patients were evaluated by clinical examinat ion and ultrasonography with measurement of fibroid volume before treament and 1, 6 and 12 months after UAE. The remaining 12 patients were followed 3 and 12 months after treatment. Embolization with microparticles was perfor med percutaneously in local analgesia by selective catheterization of both uterine arteries. Results: A primary technical success with bilateral UAE was achieved in 60/ 62 (97%) of the patients. They were treated for postprocedural pain lasting up to 24 h. In 30 of the 62 patients with 6 months follow-up, the mean fib roid volume was reduced 68% 6 months after treatment. Twenty-nine (96%) of the patients experienced reduced bleeding, 21 (70%) reduced pain, and 18 (6 1%) reduced bulk symptoms at follow-up. Conclusion. UAE is a method with a high technical success rate. The treatme nt has good effect on fibroid volume reduction and clinical symptoms. Sever e post-procedural pain occurs generally in successful bilateral embolizatio ns, but complications and adverse events are otherwise few and minor. UAE r epresents a promising new method for treating uterine fibroid-related sympt oms.