Uterine balloon therapy to treat menorrhagia

To study the clinical efficacy, safety and acceptability of the thermal balloon endometrial ablation (TBEA) in patients with dysfunctional uterine bleeding.

Thirteen patients with DUB who did not respond to medical treatment and dilatation and curettage consented to a trial of TBEA with EASY model of balloon catheter by Gynecare. All procedures were done under intravenous (i.v.) sedation and paracervical block. Patients were mostly discharged within 48 h. Follow-up of 2-19 months is reported. Transvaginal ultrasound and hysteroscopy were performed in six patients after 6 months of TBEA.

Twelve patients (92.3%) reported a significant reduction in bleeding. Two patients (15.4%) experienced amenorrhea. Only two patients (15.4%) underwent subsequent hysterectomy, one for persistent menorrhagia and the other for severe pelvic pain. In successful patients of TBEA, transvaginal ultrasonography revealed marked reduction in endometrial thickness and no endometrium was visible in one patient who had developed amenorrhea. In successful cases follow-up hysteroscopy revealed scarring in more than two-thirds of the endometrium.

Thermal balloon endometrial ablation is a safe, simple, effective, easy and minimally invasive procedure which can be done under i.v. sedation and paracervical block in an office setting. It has several advantages over hysterectomy, including preservation of the uterus, avoidance of surgical incision and potential to perform on an outpatient basis. It is a good alternative to hysteroscopic endometrial ablation with a comparable success rate with minimal risk and no limiting factors except the cost of the balloons. However, large scale randomized controlled studies are needed with TBEA and other endometrial ablation procedures.