Factors affecting early surgical intervention after uterine artery embolization

Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is an effective technique for the management of uterine myoma. However, complications of this procedure can be serious, including uterine infection and bowel necrosis in conjunction with necrosis of subserous or pedunculated myomas. Treatment failure is more likely to occur in the presence of submucosal myoma associated with a uterine infection or a large myoma of more than 8 cm. Accordingly, patients whose primary symptoms include submucosal myoma and menorrhagia are best treated with a hysteroscopic myomectomy or hysterectomy. The role of the gynecologist is crucial for most effective management and safe use of uterine artery embolization.

Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians

After completion of this article, the reader will be able to list the complications of uterine artery embolization for fibroids, to describe postembolization syndrome, and identify the myomas that are more likely to fail uterine artery embolization.