Patient satisfaction with thermal balloon endometrial ablation. A retrospective review.
OBJECTIVE
To determine overall patient satisfaction with the balloon endometrial ablation procedure in women with menorrhagia.


METHODS
Thirty-one women in a university hospital underwent thermal balloon endometrial ablation in the year 2000. Of these, 3 were lost to follow-up. Twenty-eight women were called and asked to participate in a survey that quantified overall satisfaction with the procedure as well as change in menstrual flow and menstrual pain. Women were asked if any further medical or surgical therapy was required to control the bleeding. All patients participated in the study and stated that they underwent the procedure secondary to "heavy bleeding." All operative reports were reviewed and contained menorrhagia, menometorrhagia or dysfunctional uterine bleeding in the preoperative diagnosis.


RESULTS
A total of 57% of women reported overall satisfaction with the endometrial ablation procedure, 14% were very dissatisfied, and 4% were neutral. Fifty-seven percent of women reported no bleeding or very decreased bleeding following the procedure, while 11% had slightly decreased bleeding. Thirty-two percent experienced no change, 43% reported decreased menstrual pain, and 57% had no change. Thirteen of 28 women underwent subsequent hysterectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Less than 60% of women reported satisfaction with balloon endometrial ablation, and 40% underwent hysterectomy within 1 year of it.
Jarrell
April
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Box 70569, Johnson City, TN 37614-1707, USA.
Olsen
Martin E
ME
D000328:Adult; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D002404:Catheterization; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D008595:Menorrhagia / Q000628:therapy*; D008796:Metrorrhagia / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome