UTERINE FIBROID EMBOLISATION

Uterine fibroids are benign non cancerous uterine masses. They are classically seen in young reproductive age. Small size fibroid do not require any treatment. Large size fibroids can be symptomatic in form of crampy pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, pressure symptom, likely increased urinary frequency and incomplete bowel evacuation. Sometimes fibroids can be the cause of infertility also.

Classical treatment is myomectomy (removing fibroid surgically) , if single or few in number. However scarless, non surgical treatment of fibroid is equally successful and has similar recurrence rates with less complications.

WHAT IS UTERINE FIBROID EMBOLIZATION

uterine fibroid embolization is a technique where the blood supply of fibroid
is blocked by into the artery supplying the fibroid. This doesn’t require any surgery or scar and procedure is done in day care setting. After embolization the blood supply stops and fibroid shrink.

Maximum size reduction is seen in 3 to 6 months and patient become asymptomatic.

HOW UTERINE FIBROID EMBOLIZATION IS DONE

From leg/groin a larger blood vessel is entered and from there sophisticated hardware is used to enter uterine arteries. Then the blood vessel supplying the fibroid is entered. Then the blood vessel is blocked by tiny spherical embolic particles.

WHAT ARE THE POST PROCEDURE COMPLICATIONS

  1. Pain
  2. Thigh/ groin lump/swelling
  3. Mild low grade fever
  4. Very rare non target embolization

SUCCESS RATES

Technically the procedure is 95 to 98% successful and clinically results are achieved in 80 to 90% of patients

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