title: Pelvic pain after uterine artery embolization: a prospective randomized study of polyvinyl alcohol particles mixed with ketoprofen versus bland polyvinyl alcohol particles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether pelvic pain following uterine artery embolization (UAE) can be decreased by using ketoprofen mixed with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized prospective study was performed in 80 patients (age range, 25-52 years; mean age, 41 years) undergoing UAE with PVA between March and August 2006. Forty patients received PVA particles mixed with ketoprofen, and 40 received bland PVA particles. Fifty-three patients who were asymptomatic 8 hours after embolization were discharged. Pain scores were compared during the first 8 hours after the procedure, at discharge, and the following day. The results were evaluated after 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight hours after UAE, 13 of the 40 patients in the group without ketoprofen (32%) reported severe or very severe pain, whereas none of the patients in the group receiving ketoprofen reported severe or very severe pain, as determined with a numeric pain score scale (P = .0015). Nineteen of the 40 patients without ketoprofen (48%) were treated as inpatients, but only 10 in the ketoprofen group (25%) were treated as inpatients. The differences in the clinical outcome, as well in the uterus and fibroid sizes at discharge and at 6 months, were not statistically significant (P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of PVA particles mixed with ketoprofen resulted in a statistically significant reduction in pelvic pain during the first 8 hours after UAE as compared to the use of PVA alone. However, no significant differences in pain scores were seen after 8 hours. These findings may lead to a reduction in inpatient management for UAE; however, further study of this approach is warranted.
authors.affiliation: St. Louis Hospital and Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, New University of Lisbon. joao.pisco@hpv.min-saude.pt
authors.forename: João M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pisco
authors.forename: Tiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bilhim
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: F Moura
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Antonio G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007660:Ketoprofen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D010316:Particle Size; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055357:Uterine Artery Embolization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D045424:Complex Mixtures; D004338:Drug Combinations; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol; D007660:Ketoprofen