How is uterine artery embolization performed?
admin | May 30, 2011 | Comments 0
The procedure is initiated through the patient’s femoral artery, which is accessed in the thigh. The doctor cleans the appropriate area on the selected thigh and then places sterile drapes over the area. The patient has an intravenous fluid (IV) line inserted in one arm before the procedure is started.
Appropriate sedation or anesthesia is administrated. Local anesthesia is usually injected in the sterile area on the thigh. A small diagnostic flexible catheter is then inserted through the incision, directly into the femoral artery. Under fluoroscopic guidance, the catheter is advanced into the uterine artery.
Very small round particles (microspheres) are then injected through the catheter into the uterine artery. The flow of blood in the artery transports these tiny particles into the small blood vessels that supply blood to the fibroids. These particles occlude or block the
flow of blood to these fibroids, and the fibroids shrink and die. Some of these fibroids are converted to scar tissue.
The embolization does not affect the normal muscles in the uterus because there are other blood vessels that supply the uterus. As a result, successful pregnancies have occurred after UAE. These pregnancies may be complicated by an increase in preterm or early deliveries.
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