title: Uterine artery embolization should not be recommended without careful consideration in the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate convalescence and the incidence of adverse symptoms associated with uterine artery embolization (UAE) in the treatment of uterine fibroids, several parameters after UAE were compared with those after laparoscopic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  For the treatment of uterine fibroids, 78 patients underwent UAE and 58 received laparoscopic surgery (31 were laparoscopic myomectomy [LM] and 27 were laparoscopy-assisted myomectomy [LAM]) during the period July 2001 to July 2004. The length of hospitalization, and the periods until the beginning of a normal daily life, work and exercise, long-term follow up data in the UAE and laparoscopy groups were compared, and the incidence of adverse symptoms after each procedure was compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The length of hospitalization for the UAE group 2.1 +/- 0.1 (mean +/- S.E) was significantly shorter than those for the LM and LAM groups (2.6 +/- 0.1 and 3.8 +/- 0.2 days, respectively; P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001). The period until beginning of normal daily life and work were similar between the UAE and LM groups. The degree of improved symptoms after each procedure were similar among the three groups, but the incidence of adverse symptoms after UAE was significantly higher than after laparoscopic surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The UAE group showed a significantly shorter period of hospitalization, but the convalescence of the UAE group was similar to the LA group, with a higher incidence of adverse symptoms than laparoscopic surgeries. Therefore, UAE should not be recommended without careful consideration, in the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids.
authors: Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Perinatal Medicine and Maternal Care, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan. ohgi-s@ncchd.go.jp
authors: Shirei
authors: S
authors: Ohgi
authors: Koji
authors: K
authors: Nakagawa
authors: Hiromi
authors: H
authors: Inoue
authors: Masanobu
authors: M
authors: Yasuda
authors: Hidekazu
authors: H
authors: Saito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires