Traditionally, symptomatic fibroids
have been treated with medication
(which may cause side effects) or by
removing the fibroids or the entire
uterus (hysterectomy). The Fibroid
Treatment Program at Wellington
offers a minimally invasive alternative
called Uterine Artery Embolization
(UAE), a safe and effective procedure
with an 85 to 90 percent success rate.
UAE preserves the uterus and greatly
reduces recovery time.
During UAE, the patient is given
a mild sedative, but remains conscious.
The interventional radiologist inserts
a thin catheter into the artery in the
top of the leg, and uses X-ray imaging
to guide the catheter to the uterine
artery. Tiny round particles are then
injected through the tubing to block the
blood vessels that lead to the fibroids.
The disruption of blood flow to the
fibroids causes them to shrink or
disappear, which relieves symptoms.
The patient usually requires an
overnight hospital stay, but may return
to normal activity in seven to 10 days.
UAE may be a good option for women
who need fibroid symptom treatment,
but want to avoid surgery.
Fibroid Relief Doesn't Have to
Mean a Hysterectomy
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous
growths on or within the walls
of the uterus. Though most
women with fibroids require no
treatment, some may have debilitating
symptoms that affect their daily lives,
such as excessive or prolonged bleeding,
frequent urination, and pain and
pressure in the pelvis, back, legs and
bladder. One-third of the 600,000
hysterectomies performed each year
are due to uterine fibroids.
Thomas Kirchner, MD, and
Jonathan Huber, MD, are board-certified
and fellowship-trained interventional
radiologists who perform Uterine Artery
Embolization at The Fibroid Treatment
Program at Wellington. For more
information or to schedule a consultation,
please call 
 |
Wellington Regional Medical Center, 10101 Forest Hill Blvd. Wellington, FL 33414 (561) 798-8500 |
