One of the branches of medicine is reproductive. She is one of the most delicate, as it is directly related to the main purpose of every woman - to become a mother.
The methods that are practiced in this industry are also aimed at preparing the body for the main event in a woman's life. It should be noted that in modern times, a fairly large number of women suffer from various inflammatory and infectious diseases of the reproductive system, which often causes infertility or the inability to bear a baby.
Uterine fibroids are the most common of all pathologies. It can cause infertility, every year medicine moves further, completely new methods of therapy appear that can bring women closer to their cherished goal.
One of these modern methods is uterine artery embolization for uterine myoma. We will get acquainted with this method of getting rid of fibroids in our article.
What is uterine fibroids?
This pathology includes a benign neoplasm in the muscular layer of the uterus. At the very beginning of its development, it looks like a small knotirregular shape.
It is quite easy to recognize the disease on an ultrasound examination, but even before visiting a doctor, a woman can feel pain in the lower abdomen, a violation of the process of urination. Many experience uterine bleeding, which some try to pass off as a menstrual irregularity.
Most often, women of reproductive age suffer from this pathology, if delayed with treatment, then not far from infertility and other complications.
The essence of the method
Uterine artery embolization for uterine fibroids is a new method of treating this disease, which allows you to get rid of the neoplasm without resorting to surgery. Complications after such an intervention are quite rare, so the method is considered the most gentle and quite effective.
If uterine artery embolization is prescribed for uterine myoma, the essence of treatment is the introduction of plasticizer balls into the arteries that feed the neoplasm. They will block the blood flow, and the fibroid cells will gradually die.
When embolization is indicated
Many women have a question: "If there is a neoplasm, then when is uterine artery embolization prescribed for uterine myoma?" Are there any contraindications to this procedure? First, let's analyze the testimony, and these are:
- Fibroids are growing rapidly.
- No surgery available.
- A woman hasprofuse bleeding.
- Severe pain.
It is important to preserve the uterus for the subsequent bearing of the baby
The main factor that induces doctors to use just such a method of getting rid of fibroids is the desire of a woman to have children in the future. There are situations when embolization is performed before surgical removal of fibroids to reduce the risk of heavy bleeding.
It should be noted that in our country this method is considered quite new, so not every city can find specialists who practice such operations.
If uterine artery embolization is required for uterine myoma, Kazan can offer such a service to its residents and guests of the city. City Clinical Hospital No. 7 has experienced doctors and all the necessary equipment for treatment with this method.
Preparation for embolization
Before sending a woman for this procedure, the doctor will prescribe some necessary tests:
- Ultrasound, with its help you can determine the localization, size of fibroids.
- Standard blood and urine tests.
- A swab is taken to determine the microflora of the vagina.
- Oncocytology is performed to rule out malignant cells.
- Research for infection.
- Blood testing for HIV, Hepatitis C and B.
- Examination of the cervix under a microscope.
- A cardiogram is being made.
- Requiredthe conclusion of other specialists, if there are chronic pathologies, as well as the therapist.
After all the studies, a referral for embolization is given. On the day of the procedure, it is not recommended to eat and drink, to ensure maximum sterility in the groin, remove hair. If a woman suffers from varicose veins, then the doctor should recommend wearing compression stockings a week before the procedure.
The essence of the technique
It is not clear to everyone what uterine artery embolization is for uterine myoma, how such a procedure is done. Let's look into this issue. The whole method of therapy consists of the following steps:
- Pre-pelvic ultrasound.
- Cervical mucus is taken to exclude oncological pathologies, inflammatory diseases. With them, this technique is not used.
- Then, a puncture is made in the inguinal fold, and a catheter is inserted into the femoral artery. The procedure is not very painful, so local anesthesia is sufficient.
- The doctor passes the catheter under X-ray control to the place of the uterine artery, where it begins to branch, supplying the myoma.
- To confirm the correct diagnosis and location of the catheter, an arteriogram is performed - the introduction of a contrast agent.
- When the correctness of the action is confirmed, the specialist injects special drugs through the catheter, which, getting into narrow vessels, clog them, and blood does not enter the tumor tissue.
- To completely cut off the blood supply to fibroids, blockage is done onboth femoral arteries.
- At the end of the procedure, a control arteriogram is done.
- A sterile bandage is applied to the puncture site.
Uterine artery embolization continues for uterine myoma no more than 1.5 hours, usually 20 minutes is enough, it all depends on the location of the arteries and the experience of the doctor.
Recovery of the body after embolization
The female body takes about two weeks to recover from this procedure, but this does not mean at all that you will have to stay in the hospital all this time. After uterine artery embolization (UAE) has been performed for uterine myoma, a woman can go home almost the same day if her condition is normal. At home, you need to follow some recommendations:
- Preferably bed rest for a few days.
- To relieve pain, you can take painkillers.
- Control body temperature in order to timely recognize the beginning of the inflammatory process.
- After the procedure, it is desirable to increase fluid intake, especially in the first week.
- If there is a fibroid, embolization suggests the exclusion of Aspirin and other blood thinners.
- In the early days, it is undesirable to take a bath, visit a sauna or a bath.
- Complete physical rest and exclusion of sexual intercourse are recommended for several weeks.life.
- Women are not recommended to use tampons on critical days.
It is very important to carry out timely treatment of uterine fibroids, uterine artery embolization will help a woman maintain her ability to bear children.
Pros of this method
Each method of treatment has its advantages and disadvantages, embolization is no exception. But first, let's focus on the pros:
- High efficiency.
- Uterine artery embolization for uterine fibroids leaves no scars or cuts.
- This method virtually eliminates the re-development of fibroids, which cannot be said about surgical removal.
- Because only local anesthesia can be used, the recovery period is short and does not take long to recover from anesthesia.
- A woman can only spend a couple of days in the hospital.
- If a fibroid is diagnosed, embolization comes to the rescue if surgery is out of the question.
- The procedure does not adversely affect fertility.
Disadvantages of embolization
Now a little about the cons. Currently, the equipment for carrying out such a procedure is quite expensive. And there are still not enough specialists in this field in Russia.
Another disadvantage is the use of x-rays during embolization. But it should be noted that the dose of radiation does not exceed that which we receive when undergoing a chest x-ray.
The disadvantage can be considered the inability to take tissue for a biopsy, but it is compensateddiagnostic angiographic examination before the procedure. An experienced doctor can always recognize an oncological neoplasm by the vascular picture.
Contraindications for the procedure
Despite the fact that uterine artery embolization for uterine fibroids has positive reviews, and is also a fairly effective procedure, it is not allowed to be carried out in all cases. Contraindications may include:
- Inflammatory pathologies of the pelvic organs.
- Presence of allergic reactions to a drug used to block blood vessels.
- Pregnancy.
- The presence of malignant neoplasms in the body of any localization.
- If there is renal insufficiency, it is difficult to use a contrast agent, so the procedure is not recommended.
Relative contraindications include:
- Rapid growth of neoplasm.
- The knot is superficial and has a thin stem.
An experienced doctor will always find out all the contraindications before sending a woman for embolization.
Complications of the procedure
This procedure is considered less dangerous than surgery, but uterine artery embolization for uterine fibroids may also have undesirable consequences, among which the following should be noted:
- Almost always a hematoma is formed at the puncture site. It goes away with time, butrequire a special ointment to speed up the process.
- Infection. If this happens, then a course of antibiotic therapy is prescribed. It is only important not to confuse the onset of infection with the natural reaction of the body. Provided that the temperature is high for several days, you will have to inform the doctor.
- Pain in the lower abdomen. It is almost impossible to insure against them, since this pain is associated with the death of fibroid cells. Painkillers will come to the rescue.
- May be intoxication, so the body reacts to the introduction of a contrast agent. It manifests itself in the form of fever and requires the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Adhesions of connective tissue may form, but this is extremely rare.
- The absence of menstruation is common, but gradually over 2-3 months the cycle is restored.
- Ovarian exhaustion.
- A rather rare complication is arterial perforation.
If there are serious complications, then the patient may have to surgically remove the fibroids. But the probability of such an outcome is small, only 1 case per 1000 procedures.
Where the embolization procedure takes place
If you study this method of dealing with fibroids, then most patients, of course, prefer it to surgery. Then the question arises as to where such procedures are performed.
I must say that this technique requires expensive equipment, and not all clinics can afford to buy it. This is the first reason that explains why not every hospital,and not every city can do embolization.
This direction in medicine is relatively new - performing operations on blood vessels, so there are still not enough surgeons who would have enough experience and practice in performing such a procedure.
In addition, embolization requires a special X-ray operating room, which is not available in all medical institutions.
If, after all, a woman wants to get rid of fibroids in this way, then most likely she needs to seek help from a specialized clinic or a private reproductive center.
Uterine artery embolization for uterine fibroids: treatment reviews
If a woman decides to get rid of fibroids by this method, then you need to be prepared for the fact that the cost of such a procedure is quite high. This is due to the use of expensive equipment and drugs for intravascular injection.
Most patients note that embolization is less traumatic, so the recovery period after the procedure is short and does not require long-term hospitalization.
If uterine artery embolization is performed for uterine myoma, reviews are also negative. Some women report severe pain during the procedure, as well as for several hours after it. On the first day, the temperature may rise and torment bouts of nausea.
Not everyone notes complete relief from the pathology, some actually have fibroids gradually disappearing, but there are patients who will have surgery.
Not even among doctorsThere is a clear opinion about embolization, there is a group that considers it a real panacea, and there are those who consider this technique just an alternative to surgery.
The decision whether to remove fibroids surgically or try embolization should be made in consultation with the doctor. It is necessary to take into account all the risks and possibilities for the development of complications. Each woman's body reacts individually to various interventions, so it cannot be argued that one or another method of treatment is suitable for absolutely everyone.
