Stevo Duvnjak1,2, Pernille Ravn3, Anders Green4, Poul Erik Andersen5. 1. Department of Radiology, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000, Odense, Denmark. stevo.duvnjak@rsyd.dk. 2. Odense Patient Data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winslows Vej 9 a, 5000, Odense, Denmark. stevo.duvnjak@rsyd.dk. 3. Department of Gynecology, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000, Odense, Denmark. 4. Odense Patient Data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winslows Vej 9 a, 5000, Odense, Denmark. 5. Department of Radiology, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000, Odense, Denmark.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the long-term clinical outcome and frequency of reinterventions in patients with uterine fibroids treated with embolization at a single center using polyvinyl alcohol microparticles. METHODS: The study included all patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids treated with uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) with spherical (s-PVA) and nonspherical (ns-PVA) polyvinyl alcohol microparticles during the period January 2001 to January 2011. Clinical success and secondary interventions were examined. Hospital records were reviewed during follow-up, and symptom-specific questionnaires were sent to all patients. RESULTS: In total, 515 patients were treated with UFE and 350 patients (67 %) were available for long-term clinical follow-up. Median time of follow-up was 93 (range 76-120.2) months. Eighty-five patients (72 %) had no reinterventions during follow-up in the group embolized with ns-PVA compared with 134 patients (58 %) treated with s-PVA. Thirty-three patients (28 %) underwent secondary interventions in the ns-PVA group compared with 98 patients (42 %) in s-PVA group (χ(2) test, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Spherical PVA particles 500-700 µm showed high reintervention rate at long-term follow-up, and almost one quarter of the patients underwent secondary interventions, suggesting that this type of particle is inappropriate for UFE.
PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the long-term clinical outcome and frequency of reinterventions in patients with uterine fibroids treated with embolization at a single center using polyvinyl alcohol microparticles. METHODS: The study included all patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids treated with uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) with spherical (s-PVA) and nonspherical (ns-PVA) polyvinyl alcohol microparticles during the period January 2001 to January 2011. Clinical success and secondary interventions were examined. Hospital records were reviewed during follow-up, and symptom-specific questionnaires were sent to all patients. RESULTS: In total, 515 patients were treated with UFE and 350 patients (67 %) were available for long-term clinical follow-up. Median time of follow-up was 93 (range 76-120.2) months. Eighty-five patients (72 %) had no reinterventions during follow-up in the group embolized with ns-PVA compared with 134 patients (58 %) treated with s-PVA. Thirty-three patients (28 %) underwent secondary interventions in the ns-PVA group compared with 98 patients (42 %) in s-PVA group (χ(2) test, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Spherical PVA particles 500-700 µm showed high reintervention rate at long-term follow-up, and almost one quarter of the patients underwent secondary interventions, suggesting that this type of particle is inappropriate for UFE.