Time course of pain after uterine artery embolization for fibroid disease.
Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is emerging as a nonsurgical therapy for fibroid disease in many women. One of the major issues in the continuing development of UAE is pain control after the procedure. The authors' experience has been that postprocedural pain after UAE follows a consistently predictable course. This study is designed to define the time course of pain after UAE for the management of fibroid disease.


METHODS
The records of patient-controlled analgesia usage after UAE in 50 patients were reviewed and analyzed, and compared with the general population of UAE patients.


RESULTS
The pain experienced after UAE follows a consistent pattern over time. Pain increases over the first 2 hours after the procedure is completed and then plateaus for several hours. Pain then decreases fairly rapidly to a much lower level.


CONCLUSIONS
This observation can serve as a baseline for evaluation of different pain-control protocols after UAE.
Worthington-Kirsch
Robert L
RL
Department of Medical Imaging, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. kirsch@igsapc.com
Koller
Nancy E
NE
D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D001158:Arteries; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000628:therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*