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| Uterine
Artery Embolization |
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Marin General Hospital's
interventional radiologists are offering a safe alternative for
women considering hysterectomies due to fibroids or benign uterine
tumors. Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE), a non-surgical procedure,
literally starves the tumor of its blood supply using a catheter
placed through the groin and tiny plastic beads inserted into the
artery.
Insertion of the catheter through the groin. |
Close-up of the insertion of tiny plastic beads into the artery. |
"This procedure can be an alternative to hysterectomy, or removal of
the uterus," said Dr. Chad Goodman, an interventional radiologist on
staff at the hospital. "I think UAE gives patients an adequate
option if they're not interested in surgery."
According to the Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional
Radiology, from 20 to 40 percent of women age 30 to 50 have uterine
fibroids of significant size. These tumors can cause pelvic pain,
increase menstrual cramps and bleeding, bloating, irregular or
painful periods, constipation and increase urinary frequency. Some
600,000 women had hysterectomies last year across the United States
and one-third of those surgeries were for benign fibroids.
"UAE is safe and has far less complications," said Goodman. "It's a
minimally invasive procedure and the recovery time is quick. Most
women are up and about in a week. With a hysterectomy, it's six
weeks."
Interventional radiologists specialize in procedures that can
replace surgery through cutting a tiny hole in the skin and using
x-ray guidance.
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