In which cases is the treatment of uterine fibroids applied?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Truong Nghia Binh - Specialist in Obstetrics - Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Da Nang International Hospital
Uterine fibroid embolization is a vascular intervention method that has been successfully applied by hospital doctors on many patients. Therefore, there are many women with uterine fibroids who want to better understand this method to increase the chances of successful fibroid treatment.

1. What is the treatment of uterine fibroids?

Treatment of uterine fibroids has many different methods but mainly treatment takes place in two directions: preserving the uterus and removing the uterus. With the method of removing the uterus, uterine fibroids will be completely cured, but the patient cannot continue to get pregnant and is often prone to endocrine problems, menopause due to surgery. Conservative methods can ensure the patient's fertility, but the recurrence rate of fibroids is quite high.
Embolization for uterine fibroids is a new, non-surgical treatment that is similar to laparoscopic methods, which is to use a catheter going into the lumen, performed on a DSA angiogram.
The technique of embolization to treat uterine fibroids is understood as follows: In this method, the doctor inserts a small and soft catheter through the femoral artery to go to the arteries on both sides of the uterus, then injects anesthetic agent. occlusion of PVA particles into the tube, occlusion of the uterine artery. These vessels will be blocked by small plastic particles, to cut off the source of nutrients that feed the uterine fibroids. In addition, uterine fibroid embolization does not require anesthesia, the patient will not lose blood and leave no large scars on the abdomen.
The main purpose of uterine fibroid embolization is to make the fibroid tumor self-destruct under sterile conditions and without enough blood supply, it will gradually shrink into a very small scar on the uterine wall. bow. Fibroids cannot grow because the nutritional blood supply to the fibroids is eliminated, causing the tumor to shrink, but still ensuring the integrity of the uterus, as well as preserving the function of the uterus after the procedure. procedure, and at the same time reduce or eliminate symptoms caused by uterine fibroids such as abdominal pain, menorrhagia....

2. Should the uterine fibroids embolize?

The method of embolization for uterine fibroids blocks the arteries that feed the uterine fibroids, only applicable to vascular-rich tumors. After embolization treatment for uterine fibroids, patients are often very painful because the uterine fibroids are infarcted with necrosis. This procedure requires anesthesia and carries the risk of obstructing the blood supply branches to the ovaries or areas of healthy uterine muscle.

Statistically there is a certain percentage of cases of amenorrhea and even infertility after embolization. Therefore, experts recommend that the method of embolization for uterine fibroids should be applied to cases where the number of children is sufficient or when they do not want to become pregnant in the future.

3. Indication of uterine fibroid nodes

Fibroid tumors in the uterine myometrium are less than 10cm in size, with clinical symptoms caused by the tumor such as abdominal pain, menorrhagia... Subserosal fibroids have an attachment surface of the tumor to the uterine muscle. greater than or equal to 2cm. Submucosal fibroids are less than 5cm in size. Uterine fibroids in women who want to preserve the uterus for childbirth or improve quality of life.

4. Contraindications to embolization of uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are too large, more than 10cm in diameter. As with general contraindications to angiography: existing infectious disease; liver failure, severe renal failure; have hemophilia; diabetes mellitus; a history of allergy to preparations containing iodine; have a history of bronchial asthma ... Inflammation of the appendages and suspected malignancy of the uterus and cervix. Currently, Vinmec International Hospital has applied the method of digital background scan and embolization to treat uterine fibroids. This method has a treatment efficiency of over 95% and is considered an advanced, modern and safe method for patients. After the procedure, the patient recovered quickly and left no sequelae.
Besides, Vinmec International General Hospital is equipped with the most modern equipment in Vietnam to bring optimal treatment efficiency. Under the implementation of a team of experienced doctors, the procedures are taken seriously, regularly checked by someone, and always updated with the latest procedures and regulations in the world.

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