Outpatient Uterine Artery Embolization for Symptomatic Uterine Fibroids: Experience in 49 Patients

Uterine artery embolisation for uterine fibroids using a 4F Rosch inferior mesenteric catheter

“…The techniques reported for catheterisation most commonly involve the use of a 5F Cobra catheter for the contralateral artery and the use of the Waltman loop technique for the ipsilateral side using the same catheter [1][2][3][4]. Alternatively ipsilateral catheterisation may be performed with reverse curve catheters such as the Simmons 1-3 [4][5][6]. Bilateral femoral punctures may be necessary if the uterine artery cannot be catheterised from the ipsilateral side.…”

Early Post UAE Management

“…The main reason for this is to achieve adequate pain control. Some institutions will discharge the patient later the same day, if for example, they were treated early in the day, and are fit for discharge the same evening (Siskin et al 2000).…”

Complications of Fibroid Embolisation

“…Hysterectomy has been performed for pelvic sepsis following UAE in 1-2 % of patients following embolisation (Edwards et al 2007;Dutton et al 2007;Pelage et al 2000;Goodwin et al 1999;Siskin et al 2000). These include endometritis, which is an infection of the endometrium that has been reported in up to 1.6 % of UAE patients (Spies et al 2002;Volkers et al 2006;Goodwin et al 1999).…”

“…Pelage et al reported a case of acute septic uterine necrosis in a patient who presented 17 days post embolisation and required hysterectomy (Pelage et al 2000). Siskin et al reported another patient who underwent hysterectomy for pelvic sepsis which revealed necrosis of the fibroid and surrounding myometrium (Siskin et al 2000). Possible causes include poor collateral circulation and small diameter embolic agents that occlude the distal branches.…”