Outcome of the first 220 cases of endometrial balloon ablation using Cavaterm plus

The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate the effectiveness of day-case Cavaterm plus thermal balloon endometrial ablation in the treatment of therapy-resistant menorrhagia. The study included 220 patients with a mean age of 41 years, mean parity of 2.1 and mean duration of menorrhagia of 3.2 years. A 6-mm diameter Cavaterm plus catheter with a silicone balloon at its tip was used. The ablation time was 10 minutes at a temperature of 78 degrees C. No procedure-related operative or immediate postoperative complications were encountered. The mean follow-up period was 19 months (range 6-24 months). The amenorrhoea-hypomenorrhoea rates at the various follow-up periods ranged between 74% and 83%. At the end of follow-up, 83% of patients were satisfied with the procedure. We conclude that Cavaterm plus is a safe and effective treatment for menorrhagia and has good patient acceptability.