Narayana Health Care
  • Cardiology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Nephrology
  • Neurology
  • Oncology
  • Book An Appointment
    • Video Consultation
    • Physical Consultation
Narayana Health Care
  • Cardiology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Nephrology
  • Neurology
  • Oncology
  • Book An Appointment
    • Video Consultation
    • Physical Consultation
Home > Blog > Narayanahealth > Uterine fibroids – Say NO to Surgery
Narayanahealth

Uterine fibroids – Say NO to Surgery

by Narayana Health August 21, 2017
written by Narayana Health August 21, 2017
Uterine fibroids – Say NO to Surgery

“Uterine fibroid embolization – a boon for women with uterine fibroids,”

By Dr. Vikash CS, Director of Interventional radiology, Narayana Health (South India)

Nothing is as painful for a woman with fibroids as losing her uterus on account of hysterectomy, the usual treatment recommended by gynecologists . A major surgery like hysterectomy (removal of uterus) or myomectomy (removal of fibroids), associated hospital stay, pain and slow recovery is a traumatic experience. Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) or uterine artery embolization (UAE) is a novel, minimally invasive procedure which avoids this by preserving the uterus and shrinking the fibroids without having to undergo surgery. The treatment is a daycare procedure that allows the patient to be discharged on the same day.

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths/tumors in the uterus or womb, a common cause of morbidity in women. About 1 in 3 women aged between 30 to 50 years of age suffer from fibroids. Fibroids can be asymptomatic or cause one of the following symptoms

  • Heavy, prolonged monthly periods,
  • Irregular periods
  • Anemia resulting in easy fatigability
  • Excessive pain during periods
  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • Frequent need to urinate
  • Constipation or bloating
  • Inability to conceive (Infertility)
  • Enlarged belly, heaviness in the pelvis, backache, etc.
UTERINE FIBROID/ARTERY EMBOLIZATION:
Non surgical treatment indicated for
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Failed myomectomy
  • Recurrence of fibroids after myomectomy
  • Adenomyosis of uterus


Advantages:

  • Not a surgery, no surgical incision or scar
  • Done under local anesthesia, No need of general anesthesia
  • Daycare procedure – discharged on same day or next day
  • Rapid recovery – within 2-6 days (1-2 months with hysterectomy & 3- 4 wks with myomectomy)
  • Retains ability to have children after the procedure
  • Retains uterus – signature of womanhood
  • No risk of injury to adjacent organs which can happen during surgery
  • No risk of adhesion formation, blood loss which can happen with surgery
  • Can treat all fibroids at once (may not be possible with myomectomy)

Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is one of the recent advances in treating fibroids, performed by an interventional radiologist through a small needle hole. The flexible plastic tube called as catheter is inserted and guided to the blood vessels supplying the fibroid. Once the catheter is in the proper position, small particles are injected which block the blood vessels and deprive the fibroid of nutrients, resulting in shrinkage of the fibroid. Even though the fibroids shrink gradually over few months, patients see improvement in symptoms as early as few days to few months.

UFE is a procedure performed under local anesthesia and usually takes about 60min. As it is performed through a tiny needle hole, there are no sutures or scars. The patient is discharged the same day and can get back to normal pre-procedure routine within 2-5 days. This is in contrast to hysterectomy which needs hospitalization of around 7 days, about 1-2months to come back to presurgical state. Myomectomy (removal of fibroids alone preserving the uterus) also needs about 4-7 days hospitalization and 3-4wks to get back to presurgical state. UFE is thus a boon for working women who need to get back to their routine as early as possible.

During surgery, there is a chance of injury to the adjacent organs like intestines, urinary bladder, ureters, etc. Hysterectomy at an early age can lead to weakening of pelvic musculature which can result in complications like urinary incontinence, etc at a later age. These can be totally avoided with UFE. As this procedure is performed under local anesthesia, there are no risks associated with general anesthesia. Patients who are unfit for general anesthesia (and thus surgery) due to other co morbidities like heart, lung problems can undergo UFE safely.

Women do not only lose their uterus to hysterectomy, but they also lose the prospect of having a child. For young, unmarried or childless women with fibroids, hysterectomy is a mental scar that they are unable to heal throughout their lives. The agony attached with this is profound and lasting. Uterine fibroid embolization, on the other hand, retains the child bearing ability and also allows a woman to retain the signature of her womanhood – the uterus.

Other advantages of UFE are that there is virtually no blood loss as the blood vessels are blocked during the procedure. Thus blood loss during surgery and need for any blood transfusion does not arise with UFE.

Multiple comparative studies and trials have shown that UFE is as effective as surgery with advantages as mentioned above.

Another medical condition is known as adenomyosis which also causes similar symptoms of bleeding can also be treated with uterine artery embolization, although with lower success rates.

Usually, women look no farther than gynecologists for an advice, who more often than not, recommend either hysterectomy or myomectomy. Uterine fibroid embolization is a minimally invasive treatment which is equally effective with the advantages of rapid recovery, less trauma, and retention of the uterus.

If you have uterine fibroids/adenomyosis with any of the above-mentioned symptoms, do contact an interventional radiologist and ask for UFE/UAE.

Dr. Vikash CS , Director & head of Interventional radiology at Narayana Health City, Bommasandra is a graduate of All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS), New Delhi with Canadian fellowships and extensive experience in the field of interventional radiology and uterine fibroid/artery embolization.

0 comment
7
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp
previous post
When it’s a stroke, patients need a ‘stroke emergency-ready’ hospital for effective treatment
next post
Pacemaker implanted in a 90-year-old

You may also like

Winter Diseases: Guide to protect yourselves

December 25, 2020

COVID-19 and Heart

December 22, 2020

Rheumatoid Arthritis

December 21, 2020

সার্জারি ফুসফুসের ক্যান্সার নিরাময় করতে পারে

November 13, 2020

फीटल इको क्या है?

August 6, 2020

लो ब्लड प्रेशर – एक आम बीमारी या...

July 29, 2020

Best Home Remedies for Low Blood Pressure

June 25, 2020

এই লকডাউনে ভালো থাকার উপায়

April 23, 2020

হেড এন্ড নেক ক্যানসার

February 25, 2020

Stroke – Is it predictable and preventable?

November 4, 2019

About NH

Narayana Health

Narayana Health is headquartered in Bengaluru, India, and operates a network of hospitals across the country, with a particularly strong presence in the southern state of Karnataka and eastern India, as well as an emerging presence in northern, western and central India. Our first facility was established in Bengaluru with approximately 225 operational beds and we have since grown to 23 hospitals, 7 heart centres, 19 primary care facilities across India and an international hospital in the Cayman Islands.

Keep In Touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram Linkedin Youtube Telegram

Tell us your Medical Query

[recaptcha]


Popular Posts

  • 1

    Coronavirus Testing – How to Test for Coronavirus? – Different Types of...

    March 13, 2020
  • 2

    Boosting your Immune System against Coronavirus: How to minimize the risk of infection?

    April 2, 2020
  • 3

    Know about proper usage, disposal and reuse of mask

    April 6, 2020
  • 4

    अल्सर क्या होता है?

    July 18, 2019

Categories

  • Aids (3)
  • Blood Pressure (4)
  • Bone marrow transplant (10)
  • Breast Cancer (28)
  • Cancer (28)
  • Cardiac Surgery (23)
  • Cardiology (106)
  • Coronavirus (93)
  • Dental Sciences (1)
  • Dermatology (7)
  • Diabetes (33)
  • E. N. T – Paediatric (5)
  • E. N. T. (3)
  • ECMO (1)
  • Endocrinology (3)
  • Gastroenterology (19)
  • General Health (31)
  • General Surgery (3)
  • Gynaecology (23)
  • Haematology (4)
  • Healthy Life (1)
  • heart (4)
  • Hepatology (11)
  • Infectious Diseases (2)
  • Kidney (5)
  • Liver (26)
  • medical oncology (1)
  • Mental Health (2)
  • Narayanahealth (222)
  • Nephrology (19)
  • Neurology (72)
  • Neurosurgery (23)
  • News (11)
  • NH services (6)
  • Nutrition and diet (9)
  • Oncology (61)
  • Organ Donation (1)
  • Orthopaedics (62)
  • Paediatric Cardiology (8)
  • Paediatric Surgery (3)
  • Paediatrics (48)
  • Pain & Palliative Care (3)
  • Pregancy (3)
  • Psychology (3)
  • Pulmonology (13)
  • Radiation Oncology (3)
  • Rheumatology (3)
  • Services (6)
  • Spine Surgery (17)
  • Stroke (4)
  • Swine Flu (1)
  • Transplant (1)
  • Urology (21)
  • Vascular Surgery (9)

Follow us

QUICK LINKS

Find a Doctor

Book an Appointment

Make an Enquiry

Feedback

Hospitals

Blogs

Privilege card

Heart Rhythm Disorder

NH CARES

Hernia

Lung Cancer

Brain Tumour

Liver Cancer

Heart Attack

Urinary Problems

Heart Transplant

Kidney Transplant

Bone Marrow Transplant

Pulmonary Hypertension

CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE

Liver Transplant & HPB Surgery

Cardiology

Cardiac Surgery

Neurology

Neurosurgery

Orthopaedics

Robotic Surgery

Vascular Surgery

Nephrology

Radiation Oncology

MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

Academics

Clinical Research

NH Colleges

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to our Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

About Narayana Health

|

Stakeholder Relations

|

News & Media Relations

|

Awards and Accreditations

|

Leadership

|

Careers

|

CSR

|

Sitemap

© Narayana Hrudayalaya Ltd | All rights reserved
NPPA Implant Pricing     Terms & Conditions     Privacy Policy     Disclaimer

Book Online Consultation