Fibroid tumors of the uterus are a common problem facing many women over the course of their lives. By age 50, about 70 percent of women will have these non-cancerous tumors that grow along the wall of the uterus, although many of them cause no physical symptoms.
But for some, uterine fibroids can cause significant complications including chronic pain, anemia from heavy blood loss during the menstrual cycle, urinary frequency and constipation.They can even contribute to infertility or pregnancy loss if the tumor interferes with embryo implantation or growth.
From invasive hysterectomies to non-surgical outpatient procedures
Until the last decade, women who had symptoms from fibroid tumors often underwent hysterectomies, surgical removal of the uterus and sometimes the cervix. More recently, patients could be treated with medication and laparoscopic surgery.While this kind of operation is far less invasive, it’s still a procedure that requires full sedation and hospitalization.
More recently, uterine fibroids have been treated by reaching the tumor through a catheter inserted in the artery in the groin area (femoral artery). But this approach, while performed as an outpatient procedure, can be painful and requires the patient to lay flat on strict bed-rest for several hours to prevent bleeding complications.
During my radiology residency and fellowship in New York a few years ago, I was fortunate to be part of a clinical study team investigating a newer method called the uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) technique. Instead of using an artery in the groin to reach the fibroid, we use the artery in the patient’s wrist (radial artery).
How we treat fibroids through the wrist
Guided by live x-ray imaging, we advance the catheter through the artery in the wrist down into the uterine arteries.Then we release particles that stop the blood flow going to the fibroid tumor.As a result of decreased blood flow, the fibroids cause less bleeding and ultimately shrink in size over time.
The procedure takes about an hour and the patient can sit up right away. Best of all, the woman can head home to rest after being monitored for a few hours — with no need for hospitalization.
Helping a patient overcome heavy menstrual bleeding
During my fellowship, I treated a 36- year-old woman with chronic heavy menstrual cycle bleeding as a result of fibroids. She would go through several pads each day and her symptoms affected her overall quality of life.We successfully performed UFE via the wrist approach.At her office visit with me six months later, the patient was very pleased with the significant lessening of her monthly bleeding — performed without any incision, scar or long recovery.
Women experiencing complications from fibroids should explore newer treatment options and be aware that non-surgical procedures can achieve the same goal as a surgical approach, but with less risk and a quicker recovery. But keep in mind the treatment options that work best for you will largely be determined by your overall health and the location of your fibroids.
The gynecology staff at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold treats all women ? from teens to seniors? and offers comprehensive services for gynecological disorders, well visits, health screenings, family planning, pregnancy care and menopause counseling. If you are looking for a gynecologist or internal medicine physician or any other specialist, CentraState Medical Center’s Physician Finder offers a roster of specially trained, board certified doctors at centrastate.com/physicians or by calling
866- CENTRA7.
Vivek V. Patil, M.D., is a radiologist specializing in general, vascular and interventional radiology. From 2013- 2015, he was part of a clinical research team at Mount Sinai Hospital that developed uterine fibroid embolization using the radial artery (wrist) procedure and achieved a 100 percent success rate. Dr. Patil is on staff at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold and may be contacted at Freehold Radiology Group by calling 732-462- 4844.