Uterine Fibroid Embolization

Uterine fibroids are benign (noncancerous) tumors on the uterus that can cause a host of unpleasant symptoms, including heavy periods, abdominal bloating, and lower back pain. Fibroids are very common in women over 35, particularly African-American women, but only a small percentage of women have fibroids large enough to require treatment. They can range in size from very tiny (a quarter of an inch) to larger than a cantaloupe.

Large or extensive fibroids have traditionally been treated surgically with hysterectomy or myomectomy. St. Agnes hospital offers a safe, minimally invasive treatment for this condition: uterine fibroid embolization.

During the minimally invasive procedure, a physician makes a quarter-inch incision in the groin and inserts a catheter into the blood vessel that supplies the fibroids. Small particles are delivered through the catheter, blocking the blood supply. This causes the fibroids to shrink, relieving the patient’s symptoms. The procedure requires an overnight stay in the hospital, and recovery time averages eight to 10 days, shorter than surgical alternatives.

St. Agnes has performed more than 200 UFE procedures, with a success rate of 90-95 percent. For more information on uterine fibroid embolization at St. Agnes Hospital, call 410-368-3009, or E-mail Marcos Roffe, M.D., at marcosroffe57-fibroids@yahoo.com.

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