Long-term follow up of uterine artery embolisation--an effective alternative in the treatment of XXXX .

@entity1 @entity455 @entity7793 @entity2909 @entity4999
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and @entity455 (UAE) for treatment of symptomatic uterine @entity2909 . DESIGN: A prospective observational study. SETTING: A district general hospital and two private hospitals in the southeast of England. POPULATION: @entity1 with symptomatic @entity2909 who had been offered surgical options for treatment. METHODS: Postal questionnaire follow up at 5-7 years to assess long-term clinical effects among @entity1 who had undergone UAE. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The questionnaire was subdivided into sections dealing with menstrual flow, @entity4999 and menopause, fibroid-related symptoms, fertility, vaginal discharge, sexual function, subsequent treatments for @entity2909 and satisfaction with the procedure. RESULTS: A total of 258 @entity1 were identified as being between 5 and 7 years post-UAE and suitable for long-term follow up in October 2004. One hundred seventy-two completed questionnaires were analysed (67% response rate). Seventy-five percent of @entity1 still had either a return to normal or an improvement in menstrual flow compared with how they were prior to UAE. More than 80% of fibroid-related symptoms were still resolved or improved. Sixteen percent of @entity1 required further treatment for @entity2909 . @entity7793 directly following UAE occurred in only one @entity1 in the study group. Eighty-eight percent of @entity1 were satisfied with the outcome of the procedure at 5-7 years and would choose it again or recommend it to others. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that UAE is of benefit to @entity1 wishing to avoid hysterectomy and it carries a low risk of complications.
