Uterine Artery Embolization

Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE) or Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) has proven successful in significantly decreasing or eliminating fibroid related symptoms of bleeding, pressure and pain in the majority of the thousands of women with large or multiple uterine fibroids. Uterine Fibroid Embolization is a minimally-invasive alternative to surgery used to treat women who are having symptoms from fibroids.

Procedure

This procedure is performed by an interventional radiologist. Before treatment you are given a sedative and pain medication to help you relax. You lie on a patient table and are made comfortable before starting treatment. The treatment takes place with you lying on the patient table inside the MR scanner. Your clinical team will be in the next room with two-way communication using a microphone and a speaker. The doctor will inform you when images are being acquired (scanning) and when the system is sonicating (treatment).

It begins with a tiny nick done in the groin area. This nick provides the IR with access to the femoral artery in the upper thigh. Using specialized X-ray equipment, the IR passes a catheter (small tube) into the femoral artery, to the uterine artery, and guides it near the location of the fibroid tumor.

When the IR has reached the location of the fibroids, small particles (gel, or Microspheres) are injected through the catheter and into the blood flow leading to the uterine fibroid tumors. The small particles block the blood supply to the fibroids which causes them to shrink and allows symptoms to be alleviated.

This fibroid treatment usually takes less than one hour and requires one night stay in the hospital. The procedure is done while the patient is conscious, but sedated and feeling no pain. It does not require general anesthesia and recovery time is significantly reduced compared with surgical alternatives.

Once the procedure is complete, you may experience some discomfort such as abdominal cramping or pain. You and your doctor will determine at that point what medications may be needed to keep you comfortable. The post-procedure care that you receive will be administered by skilled nurses and your IR who will consult with your OB/Gyn. Post procedure appointments will need to be scheduled, and since these appointments vary, be sure to ask your IR when they need to be scheduled.

Efficacy of UAE Treatment

On average, more than 95 percent of women who have had the procedure experience significant or total relief of heavy bleeding, pain and/or bulk-related symptoms. The procedure is effective for multiple fibroids and large fibroids. Recurrence of treated fibroids is very rare. Short and mid-term data show UAE to be very effective with a very low rate of recurrence. Long-term (10-year) data are not yet available, but in one study in which patients were followed for six years, no fibroid that had been embolized re-grew.