UAE edges myomectomy in terms of recovery.(Gynecology)

CHICAGO -- Uterine artery embolization appears to have a slight edge over myomectomy in terms of recovery after treatment of uterine fibroids, according to data presented during the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

Uterine artery embolization (UAE) was "superior in terms of adverse events, time off from work, time until the resumption of normal activities, and hospital stay," said Scott C. Goodwin, M.D., who is the chief of imaging services at Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

UAE was superior for hospital stay, time off, and time to resume activities by a roughly three to one margin.

In the prospective study, 149 patients underwent UAE and 60 underwent myomectomy. Embolization was performed with Contour PVA particles.

Patients were included in the study if they were older than 30 years and had symptomatic fibroids. Women in the UAE group did not desire to become pregnant. The researchers collected overall and fibroid specific quality of life scores (QOLs) before the procedures were undertaken.

Women in the UAE group were older, more likely to have been previously pregnant, and to have had longer periods than those in the myomectomy group. Myomectomy patients were more likely to have a miscellaneous pelvic abnormality or a tubal ligation and to have had more fibroids than UAE patients.

"In terms of the QOLs, we did not find an overall difference [between the two groups], though if you look specifically at the 36-40 age group, there were some differences in terms of sleep, mental health, and restricted activity in favor of the UAE group," Dr. Goodwin said at the meeting.