title: Uterine artery embolization for treatment of symptomatic fibroids; a single institution experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Uterine fibroids are the most common reproductive tract tumours in females. Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is a fertility-sparing procedure for treatment of symptomatic fibroids. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of UAE in the treatment of 118 patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids in a single Academic Centre in the West of Ireland to determine whether fibroid and uterine size affect clinical outcomes and complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective cohort of 118 patients who underwent UAE for treatment of symptomatic fibroids between November 2006 and August 2011. Diagnosis of fibroids in symptomatic patients was established by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or transabdominal ultrasonography (US). Three different embolic agents were used. All patients had at least one follow-up using MRI, at three and/or 12 months. A non-validated questionnaire was used to report patient satisfaction with regards to symptoms improvement on a yes-or-no basis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean fibroid volume, uterine size and dominant fibroid size were significantly reduced at three months and one year follow-up (p = 0.00) and that was tallied with symptoms improvement (p < 0.05). Overall patient satisfaction at three months was 84% falling to 75.9% by 12 months (all p < 0.05). Few complications were reported (2.5%). No significant difference was observed in safety or efficacy for different embolic agents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study confirms the safety and efficacy of UAE in the treatment of symptomatic fibroids. Hippokratia 2014; 18 (3): 258-261.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laios
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baharuddin
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iliou
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gubara
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology, University College Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
keywords: Uterine fibroid embolization; leiomyoma; menorrhagia