title: Does hydrothermal ablation avoid hysterectomy? Long-term follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to assess the long-term success rate of the HydroThermAblator system (HTA).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 376 patients who underwent HTA at our hospital during an 8-year period, following case note review and distribution of a validated menorrhagia questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of patients was 43 years. Operative complications included 3 women (0.8%) who experienced intraoperative burns. Of the 248 (66%) returned questionnaires, satisfaction rates were high at 77%. The amenorrhea rate was 38%, with a further 37% of women reporting a substantial decrease in their blood loss. In all, 29 (11%) women underwent subsequent hysterectomy for persistent menorrhagia or dysmenorrhea. Younger women had a significantly higher chance of proceeding to subsequent (P < .05) hysterectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms the long-term patient satisfaction with HTA and that the overall probability of proceeding to subsequent hysterectomy over 8 years was only 11%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Benenden Hospital, Kent, England, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kopeika
authors.forename: Simon E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Edmonds
authors.forename: Gautam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mehra
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hefni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D055356:Endometrial Ablation Techniques; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008595:Menorrhagia / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies