Traditional alternative therapies of myomectomy, hysterectomy, hormonal therapy and no treatment are discussed. Women who desire fertility may not be candidates for the procedure. The procedure is performed from the common femoral approach. Both uterine arteries are selected and arteriography performed. Static flow on follow-up imaging indicates successful embolization.
All patients experience crampy pain of variable severity.
The majority of patients are hospitalized for less than 24 hours. A small number require hospitalization for up to three days for treatment of post-embolization syndrome. Most have gradual improvement in symptoms and return to work within one week. Clinical follow-up is performed at one week and six months. Ultrasound evaluation is repeated at six weeks and six months.