Hysteroscopic appearance of the endometrial cavity following thermal balloon endometrial ablation.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the appearance of the endometrial cavity after thermal balloon endometrial ablation.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
University teaching hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-two women who had undergone thermal balloon endometrial ablation and who were followed up for at least 6 months.


METHODS
Outpatient diagnostic hysteroscopy.


METHODS
Appearance of the endometrial cavity and presence of intrauterine adhesions on hysteroscopy.


RESULTS
Postablation intrauterine adhesions were found in eight women (36.4%); six had focal adhesions in the fundal area and two had complete obliteration of the cavity. Of these eight women, three had spotting during menstruation, three had hypomenorrhea, one had eumenorrhea, and one had amenorrhea. The uterine cavity was fibrotic in four (18%) women; all reported spotting during menstruation. Ten women had a normal uterine cavity; eight had hypomenorrhea, one had spotting, and one had eumenorrhea.


CONCLUSIONS
The hysteroscopic appearance of the uterine cavity after thermal balloon endometrial ablation varies considerably. Menstrual outcome is associated with postablation appearance.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, New Territories East Cluster, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. lplpl@cuhk.edu.hk
Pui Ling
PL
Leung
Wing Hung
WH
Tam
Pong Mo
PM
Yuen
D000328:Adult; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000601:surgery*