Assessment of uterine fibroid infarction after embolization with tris-acryl gelatin microspheres

Safety and effectiveness of uterine fibroid embolization in patients with scarred uterus

AIM

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) in patients with a scarred uterus caused by a previous myomectomy or cesarean section.

METHODS

A total of 140 patients who underwent embolization for symptomatic fibroids were included in this retrospective study. The patients were divided into two groups, those with a history of myomectomy and/or cesarean section (scarred uterus group, n = 56), and those without surgical history involving the uterus (no-scar group, n = 84). Demographics, embolization details, outcomes, and complications were analyzed.

RESULTS

The overall clinical success rate was 89.28% in the scarred uterus group and 95.24% in the no-scar group. There was no statistical difference in infarction rate or change in fibroid volume in follow-up magnetic resonance imaging between the groups. There was one major complication in the no-scar group, but there was no statistical difference in complications between the groups. The mean follow-up period was 25.9 months. The mean symptom-free time was 27.2 months in the scarred uterus group and 21.9 months in the no-scar group without a significant difference. There were no statistically significant differences in symptom changes, recurrence, and complication rates between the groups. Recurrence seen on imaging or regrowth was more common in the group with myomectomy history. However, there was no significant difference in symptom recurrence rates.

CONCLUSION

No statistically significant difference in technical and clinical outcomes was observed between the two groups. There was no significant increase in complication rates of UFE in scarred uterus group.

A systematic review of the psychosocial impact of fibroids before and after treatment

OBJECTIVE

Despite the high prevalence of uterine fibroids, the psychosocial impact of fibroids has not been evaluated across different quality of life indicators and compared with other chronic conditions. Here, we rigorously analyzed available evidence pertaining to the psychosocial burden of uterine fibroids in premenopausal women and compared validated quality of life and symptom scores before and after treatment.

DATA SOURCES

We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov, Embase, and Cochrane Library for publications from January 1990 to January 2020.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

We considered English-language publications that evaluated the association between uterine fibroids diagnosed by imaging studies in premenopausal women and quality of life by standardized and validated questionnaires at baseline and after treatment. We used a detailed list of terms related to quality of life, questionnaires, and uterine fibroids to conduct the search.

METHODS

Three reviewers screened titles and abstracts and then obtained full-text articles for further analysis. The reviewers assessed risk of bias using established Cochrane and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale guidelines. The quality of life scores of premenopausal women with fibroids were reviewed at baseline and compared with those of published quality of life scores in other disease populations in addition to after fibroid treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 57 studies were included in the review: 18 randomized controlled trials and 39 observational studies. Of note, the 36-Item Short Form Survey and European Quality of Life Five-Dimension Scale questionnaires both indicated a diagnosis of uterine fibroids to have a disability score that was similar to or exceeded (was a greater psychosocial stressor) a diagnosis of heart disease, diabetes mellitus, or breast cancer. Quality of life scores were lower at baseline than after treatment in all instruments measuring these variables in women with uterine fibroids, indicating significantly impaired psychosocial functioning. Uterine fibroids were associated with significant patient-reported health disabilities related to bodily pain, mental health, social functioning, and satisfaction with sex life.

CONCLUSION

A diagnosis of uterine fibroids was a significant psychosocial stressor among women at baseline and relative to other diseases. Validated quality of life instruments indicated therapeutic success and the improvement of both physical and emotional symptoms after treatment.