Purpose: To explore the efficacy of uterine artery embolization (UAE) in the treatment of uterine fibroid and share the experience of transvaginal fibroid expulsion (FE) after UAE.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the changes in uterine and fibroid volume in 152 patients with symptomatic uterine fibroid after UAE at Fujian Provincial Hospital and Fujian Longyan People Hospital from March 2014 to March 2020. After a 12-month follow-up, the improvement in postoperative clinical symptoms and the incidence of complications were evaluated. We also shared the clinical features and imaging findings of four patients with FE after UAE.
Results: All 152 patients successfully underwent UAE. After a 12-month follow-up, the postoperative volumes of the uterus and fibroid at 3, 6, and 12 months were significantly reduced or disappeared compared to those before surgery (P < 0.05). Clinical symptoms, such as menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, prolonged menstrual period, anemia, increased leucorrhea, pelvic discomfort, and urinary tract compression, were significantly improved after UAE. Among the 152 patients, the incidences of postoperative fever, nausea, vomiting, lower abdominal pain, and increased vaginal secretion were 7.89%, 7.24%, 3.95%, 19.08%, and 4.61%, respectively. Additionally, there were six cases of FE, with an incidence of 3.95%. Three cases of fibroid specimens and pathological images of fibroid biopsy, which were expelled through the vagina, were also provided.
Conclusion: UAE is a satisfactory alternative surgical method for symptomatic uterine fibroid with definitive efficacy and high safety. However, it is necessary to guard against the occurrence of postoperative complications such as FE.
Keywords: Clinical outcomes; Transvaginal fibroid expulsion; Uterine artery embolization; Uterine fibroids.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.