Complications and reproductive outcome after uterine artery embolization for retained products of conception

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the complications and reproductive outcome after uterine artery embolization (UAE) for retained products of conception (RPOC).

This was a retrospective medical-records review study of 57 women treated for RPOC. Participants were divided into two groups: women who underwent treatment with UAE (UAE group: n = 32, 56.1%) and those without UAE (control group: n = 25, 43.9%). The complications and reproductive outcomes were compared between the two groups. Information on subsequent pregnancies and their outcomes was available for 30 women who attempted to conceive.

There were no significant differences in the interval from the last delivery or abortion (40.1 ± 3.4 vs 51.0 ± 5.1 months, respectively; P = 0.16), the rate of severe bleeding under hysteroscopy (18.5 vs 9.1%, respectively; P = 0.65), the conception rate (58.8 vs 61.5%, respectively; P = 1.0) and mean time to conception (9.9 ± 1.6 vs 11.0 ± 2.9 months, respectively; P = 0.17) in women in the UAE group compared with those in the control group. Rates of post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) and manual removal of placenta (25.0% in the UAE group and 16.7% in the control group, respectively) were higher than the general population.

Selective UAE for RPOC may be a preferable procedure in women who are suspected as having a risk of severe bleeding under treatment. Women who were treated for RPOC, regardless of UAE, were at risk of PPH and difficulty in removing the placenta in future pregnancies.