What is UFE for? Currently, there is no ideal way to treat fibroids – all methods have advantages and disadvantages. Nevertheless, it is necessary to single out the most modern and effective method of treating fibroids – UFE fibroid treatment.
UFE has been used for a long time (from the late 70s to the 20th century) to stop bleeding after childbirth and uterine operations; its effect on fibroids was revealed only in 1991. From then on, the UFE fibroid treatment began to spread widely worldwide as an independent method of treating uterine fibroids.
Currently, tens of thousands of UFE Procedures are performed annually, which is constantly increasing. It is important to note that UFE Fibroid Treatment has not been an experimental technique since the beginning of the 90s and is widely used in clinics in the USA. Embolisation was approved by the Ministry of Health o as a method approved for use in our country.
What is UFE procedure?
UFE Procedure is a minimally invasive intervention during which particles of a particular medical plastic are introduced through a puncture of an artery on the thigh into the vessels that feed the uterine myoma, completely stopping the blood flow in them. It is important to note that UFE has practically no effect on the vessels of healthy myometrium due to the peculiarities of their structure and the technique of the intervention itself.
After the blood supply is cut, the muscle cells that form the fibroids die. Within a few weeks, they are replaced by connective tissue. Shortly after UFE Fibroid Treatment, the fibroid as such no longer remains – only the connective tissue remains in its place. Then, in the process of “resorption” of this tissue, a significant decrease and complete disappearance of the nodes occur, and the symptoms of uterine fibroids disappear. In most cases (98.5%), no additional treatment for uterine fibroids is required after UFE.
Who performs UFE procedure?
UFE procedure is performed by highly qualified vascular specialists with extensive experience working with complex angiographic equipment. Endovascular surgeons perform many intravascular operations on arterial and venous vessels, the heart, the brain, and other organs. UFE is just one of many endovascular interventions.
Where is uterine artery embolisation performed?
The UFE procedure is performed in a specially equipped X-ray operating room with an angiographic apparatus. During the procedure, endovascular specialists control their manipulations using anti-graphs, allowing them to see the body’s internal structures on special monitors.
Uterine fibroids embolisation of the uterine arteries
UFE Fibroid Treatment in the US is a method for treating uterine fibroids – blocking or embolising the uterine arteries – UFE. It has been successfully used in many countries around the world.
Being a face-saving method, it is preferable for patients of childbearing age. With its highly developed and technically equipped medicine and excellent medical staff, US Vein Clinic widely uses the UFE procedure as an alternative to hysterectomy. This treatment helps a woman to get rid of helps of this benign tumor in the wall of the uterus and, at the same time, retain all her female functions.
UFE mechanism
The essence of the method involves blocking the blood vessels that supply nutrients to the fibroids. These vessels can be obstructed without disrupting the blood supply to the uterus itself, solely depriving the tumour of its nutrition.
With the use of a specially designed substance, the blood vessels through which the tumour receives nutrition are blocked by drug particles; they are embolised, resulting in a blockage. Consequently, the myoma loses its blood supply and gradually diminishes. It is then replaced by fibrous tissue, accompanied by a significant reduction (up to twofold) in size.
All the associated symptoms decrease, even to the point of complete disappearance: uterine bleeding, menstrual irregularities, pressure on neighbouring organs, and so forth.
This novel technique, known as Uterine Artery Embolisation (UAE), represents a significant advancement in the treatment of uterine fibroids. One of the major benefits of UAE is that it is minimally invasive, thereby reducing the risks and recovery time associated with more traditional surgical procedures.
Upon successful completion of the procedure, patients usually experience immediate relief from symptoms. The physical discomfort and disruptions to daily life that once plagued them often diminish significantly or disappear altogether.
It’s important to note, however, that individual experiences with this procedure can vary. While the vast majority of patients experience a significant improvement, some may require further treatment or different approaches. Despite these rare instances, UAE remains a highly effective and popular choice for managing uterine fibroids.
UFE technique
UFE fibroid Treatment is performed under x-ray control. It is achieved not by gynecologists but by vascular surgeons since they have much more experience performing blood vessel operations.
A catheter is inserted into the femoral artery and reaches the uterine artery during the operation. When it is in the right part of the circulatory system, the embolizing drug begins to flow through it, the particles of which fill the vessels that feed the fibroids.
The whole process proceeds, as already mentioned, under the supervision of an X-ray machine, which allows the surgeon to clearly see where he is and how the operation is going. Blood vessels into which a radiopaque preparation was previously injected are clearly visible on fluoroscopy.
The whole process is very similar to the arthroplasty procedure used to restore the patency of the heart vessels – but with the opposite result. If during arthroplasty, a balloon or stent is inserted into the heart vessel through a catheter to provide a lumen of the vessel, and then during UFE, the catheter in the vessel serves to embolize its lumen and stop blood flow.
The UFE procedure is performed under local anaesthesia, administered epidurally, to prevent the pain accompanying the fibroid compression process. Hospitalisation, as a rule, lasts a day after the end of the procedure and serves the purposes of medical support, qualified observation, and pain management.
How should you prepare for the UFE procedure?
After consulting our specialist, you will be assigned a list of tests and consultations. This is not an empty formality; the test data can provide crucial diagnostic information influencing treatment choice and tactics. Some tests are desirable in our clinic, but most blood tests are easier to take in your clinic or any commercial laboratory.
You will talk to the doctor about the immediate preparation for the UFE procedure. As a rule, embolisation is performed on the day of hospitalization. On this day, it is recommended to refrain from breakfast. Since the procedure involves a puncture of an artery in the upper part of the right thigh, in addition, shortly before the intervention, compression stockings must be put on both legs.
After the UFE procedure, stockings must be worn for 5–7 days. Immediately before the UFE Fibroid Treatment, an injection of a sedative is prescribed. In addition, the specialist will ask you to sign a patient-informed consent form – this is a standard procedure before any medical or diagnostic intervention.
Schedule an appointment for the UFE Fibroid Treatment online today.
Ellen Diamond , a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.