Uterus preservation for uterine fibroids

  Uterine fibroids are mostly seen in women aged 30-50 years old and are common benign tumors in women of childbearing age, with an incidence of 25%. Patients may have lower abdominal distension, uterine bleeding, leading to secondary anemia in patients, and symptoms of bladder and rectal pressure such as frequent urination, difficulty in passing stool, and constipation. Severe cases can lead to infertility or miscarriage, and the literature reports that 20-40% of patients with leiomyoma are infertile.  The traditional treatment methods are mainly: medication and surgery. Hormonal drugs are effective in shrinking fibroids and reducing symptoms, but they are slow to work and have many side effects. Traditional surgery includes myoma removal and total hysterectomy, which has a high rate of uterine recurrence after removal; total hysterectomy is very traumatic and painful for patients, and has an impact on endocrine secretion, which is difficult to accept especially for young patients who wish to keep their uterus.  On November 19, 2004, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice underwent an interventional embolization procedure for uterine fibroids, which was performed by interventional radiologist Dr. James Spies. The procedure took an hour and a half and was performed by interventional radiologist James Spies. Rice spent one night in the hospital before returning home on the 20th and returning to work on the 22nd. This report has caused a strong reaction among the majority of fibroid patients.  What is the difference between the fibroid embolization procedure Rice underwent and the traditional surgical approach? Uterine fibroid embolization is a minimally invasive interventional procedure in which the surgery does not require an incision. A 1.5 mm needle is inserted into the femoral artery at the base of the patient’s thigh, and a very thin catheter is fed along the artery into the uterine artery. The tip of the tiny catheter is super-selected to the fibroid supply artery and slowly injected with small rice-like embolic particles. Thus, the blood supply to the fibroid is blocked and the fibroid gradually shrinks or even disappears for the purpose of treatment. At the end of the procedure, the catheter is removed from the body, the needle is pressed for 10 minutes, and the patient can get out of bed after 8 hours of bandaging. This interventional treatment method is less invasive, less complications, quick recovery, satisfactory efficacy, no scar after surgery, and patients are happy to accept it. It has become the first choice for patients with uterine fibroids in many countries. So, which patients are suitable for uterine artery embolization? Patients with pain in the back and abdomen caused by uterine fibroids; patients with heavy menstrual flow and prolonged menstruation; patients with recurrence after fibroid removal; patients with frequent urination, difficulty in passing stool, and sensation of anal cramping caused by uterine fibroids.