Women's Health
Akron General offers non-surgical procedure called UFE
Alicia Jackson, 39, of Uniontown, spends most of her time taking care of her four children as a full-time, stay-at-home mom. But she had to slow down recently after experiencing a bout with unusually heavy bleeding. A visit to her gynecologist identified the source as uterine fibroids.
Millions of women in the US suffer from these noncancerous growths, which often cause serious complications such as heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, pressure, bloating and frequent urination. Up to 50 percent of women over the age of 40 have fibroid-related symptoms. And one in every three have symptoms so debilitating that everyday life is greatly impacted. Uterine fibroids affect women of all ages and backgrounds, but especially those of childbearing age, African-American descent and those who are overweight or obese.
Treatment options
The most common treatment for uterine fibroids is a hysterectomy, a major surgical procedure in which the complete uterus is removed. Hysterectomy is also associated with physical, emotional and sexual complications – and ends a woman’s fertility. In the US, approximately 600,000 women undergo hysterectomy every year with one-third being for fibroids. However, several other treatment options exist, including uterine fibroid embolization (UFE).
Alicia Jackson’s gynecologist presented her with treatment options, including UFE. “UFE was the best for me because there was no cutting involved,” Jackson recalls. “I did not want to have surgery and I didn’t want a hysterectomy. With UFE, I was able to stay awake during the whole procedure and the medical staff explained everything.”
During UFE, an interventional radiologist makes a small nick in the right groin area to insert a catheter into the uterine artery. Using fluoroscopy (moving X-rays), a harmless dye is injected into the catheter to identify blood vessels feeding the fibroids. Once a target vessel has been identified, tiny grains called tris-acryl microspheres are mixed with contrast material and injected through the catheter to block blood flow to the fibroid. The fibroid then shrinks away from the lack of blood.
“Patients who undergo the procedure on a Thursday stay in the hospital overnight and are usually back to work on Monday, whereas hysterectomy requires four days’ hospitalization and 5-6 weeks of recovery,” explains Akron General Interventional Radiologist Paul Chicatelli, MD, who has been performing UFE since 1999.
“More importantly, UFE has fewer complications than surgery and is very effective at relieving symptoms. Studies have shown that 85-95 percent of women have marked improvement in their symptoms 3-6 months after undergoing UFE,” adds Dr. Chicatelli. “However, a small number of women are not candidates for UFE. Women and their gynecologists should discuss all available treatment options to determine what is best for them.” He adds that a woman can also consult with an interventional radiologist to determine if she is a candidate for UFE.
Jackson is pleased with her choice of UFE. “After the procedure, the heavy bleeding stopped. I didn’t have to take iron supplements anymore and I was able to go back to donating blood. And I’ve recommended UFE to other women,” she says.
For more information about UFE or for a physician referral, visit www.akrongeneral.org.
