ABSTRACT
Aim: to evaluate the frequency and results of applying uterine artery embolization for uterine fibroids treating.
Research material and methods: The research retrospectively analyses the medical history of women (n=180), who were treated in 7 hospitals of Latvia and Lithuania. Uterine artery embolization (UAE) was applied for these women to treat symptomatic uterine fibroids. The diagnosis of uterine fibroids (TLK 10 D25.0, D25.1, D25.2, D25.9) was confirmed by ultrasound or magnetic resonance and gynaecologic exam. After the procedure, women were asked to fill out a questionnaire, which had to determine if they were content with the undertaken procedure and to evaluate the dynamics of the symptoms caused by uterine myomas.
Results: Main age of the patients was 43.5 ± 4.6 years, all of them had symptomatic uterine fibroids. For the majority of the patients UAE was the first treatment. According to the follow up results of the Latvian patients, the size of the uterine fibroids reduced 67.3 percent for the women versus Lithuanian – 100 percent. It takes 72.2 percent of the patient’s all together. None of the patients experienced early UAE complications. The average duration of hospitalization was 1.85±1.56 days. Three patients became pregnant after the UAE and delivered healthy babies.
Conclusions: UAE is minimally invasive, safe, efficacious, and cost-effective alternative to traditional surgical fibroids treatment. UAE helps to reduce symptoms of fibroids and is associated with rapid recovery with most women. It is suitable for women, who desire future childbearing. Appropriate patient evaluation and selection for a procedure are vital and critical for patient satisfaction.
Keywords: embolization, intervention.