title: Uterine artery embolization versus surgery for symptomatic uterine fibroids: a randomized controlled trial and a meta-analysis of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy and safety of uterine artery embolization (UAE) for symptomatic uterine fibroids with surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both a randomized, controlled trial and meta-analysis of existing studies were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either UAE or surgery with 63 patients undergoing UAE and 64 undergoing surgery. A meta-analysis of existing studies was also performed.There were significant improvements in UAE groups in most components of quality of life assessment at 6 months. Besides, the UAE group had a shorter hospital stay (P < 0.01) and a shorter recovery time (P < 0.01) compared with the surgical group. During the follow-up, there were no difference in complications incidence (58 vs. 65%, P > 0.05), but the UAE group had less major complications (0 vs. 6%, P < 0.05). Meta-analysis of existing studies including those from the current study, further suggested that UAE group had a shorter hospital stay, a shorter recovery time and less major complications than the surgical group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with surgery, UAE has a shorter hospital stay, a shorter recovery time, and less major complications. More studies in the future need to done to evaluate its long-term effects and impact on fertility.
authors: Department of Cerebral Vessels, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shanxi, China.
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Jun
authors: Liu
authors: L
authors: Yamin
authors: Xiao
authors: X
authors: Xinli
authors: Liu
authors: L
authors: Zhe
authors: Zhang
authors: Z
authors: Min
authors: Zhang
authors: Z
authors: Bo
authors: Gou
authors: G
authors: Wenli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055357:Uterine Artery Embolization; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*