title: Serious complications of uterine artery embolization for conservative treatment of fibroids.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Document major complications following treatment of fibroids by uterine artery embolization (UAE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two case reports.
  
  
  METHODS
  University medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two women with symptomatic fibroid uteri.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selective bilateral uterine artery embolization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Complications attributable to UAE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two patients experienced significant morbidity requiring hysterectomy due to infection and/or partial bowel obstruction resulting from UAE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reports of the management of symptoms related to fibroids with UAE infrequently include adverse outcomes and/or complications. The two cases we managed reinforce that UAE is not free of the risk of life-threatening complications that require emergency hysterectomy. Increasing surveillance for complications may help define the selection criteria that decrease the risks of UAE.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. payne027@mc.duke.edu
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Haney
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D010052:Ovariectomy; D013724:Teratoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*