Known medically as uterine artery embolization, this approach to the treatment of fibroids blocks the arteries that supply blood to the fibroids causing them to shrink. It is a minimally-invasive procedure, which means it requires only a tiny nick in the skin, and is performed while the patient is conscious but sedated - drowsy and feeling no pain.
Fibroid embolization is performed by an interventional radiologist, a physician who is specially trained to perform this and other minimally-invasive procedures.
The interventional radiologist makes a small nick in the skin (less than one-quarter of an inch) in the groin to access the femoral artery, and inserts a tiny tube (catheter--like a piece of spaghetti) into the artery. Local anesthesia is used so the needle puncture is not painful. The catheter is guided through artery to the uterus while the interventional radiologist guides the process of the procedure using a moving X-ray (flouroscopy).
The interventional radiologist injects tiny plastic particles the size of grains of sand into the artery that is supplying blood to the fibroid tumor. This stops the blood flow to the fibroid and causes the tumor (or tumors) to shrink. The artery on the other side of the uterus is then treated.
The skin puncture where the catheter was inserted is cleaned and covered with a bandage.
Fibroid embolization usually requires a hospital stay of one night. Pain-killing medications and drugs that control swelling typically are prescribed following the procedure to treat cramping and pain. Fever sometimes occurs after embolization and is usually treated with acetaminophen. Many women resume light activities in a few days and the majority of women are able to return to normal activities within one to two weeks.
While embolization to treat uterine fibroids has been performed since 1995, embolization of arteries in the uterus is not new. It has been used successfully by interventional radiologists for more than 20 years to treat heavy bleeding after childbirth