Uterine-artery embolization versus surgery for symptomatic uterine fibroids.
BACKGROUND
The efficacy and safety of uterine-artery embolization, as compared with standard surgical methods, for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids remain uncertain.


METHODS
We conducted a randomized trial comparing uterine-artery embolization and surgery in women with symptomatic uterine fibroids. The primary outcome was quality of life at 1 year of follow-up, as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form General Health Survey (SF-36).


RESULTS
Patients were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to undergo either uterine-artery embolization or surgery, with 106 patients undergoing embolization and 51 undergoing surgery (43 hysterectomies and 8 myomectomies). There were no significant differences between groups in any of the eight components of the SF-36 scores at 1 year. The embolization group had a shorter median duration of hospitalization than the surgical group (1 day vs. 5 days, P<0.001) and a shorter time before returning to work (P<0.001). At 1 year, symptom scores were better in the surgical group (P=0.03). During the first year of follow-up, there were 13 major adverse events in the embolization group (12%) and 10 in the surgical group (20%) (P=0.22), mostly related to the intervention. Ten patients in the embolization group (9%) required repeated embolization or hysterectomy for inadequate symptom control. After the first year of follow-up, 14 women in the embolization group (13%) required hospitalization, 3 of them for major adverse events and 11 for reintervention for treatment failure.


CONCLUSIONS
In women with symptomatic fibroids, the faster recovery after embolization must be weighed against the need for further treatment in a minority of patients. (ISRCTN.org number, ISRCTN23023665 [controlled-trials.com].)
Edwards
Richard D
RD
Moss
Jonathan G
JG
Lumsden
Mary Ann
MA
Wu
Olivia
O
Murray
Lilian S
LS
Twaddle
Sara
S
Murray
Gordon D
GD
D000328:Adult; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000191:economics; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D007902:Length of Stay; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011788:Quality of Life; D012086:Reoperation; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*