The effectiveness of thermal uterine balloon therapy in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding

Jeoung, Hyo Young; Choi, Han Song; Kim, Tae Gyun; Jung, Hyuk

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of uterine thermal balloon ablation therapy (UBT) for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding .
METHODS
From May 2005 to June 2007, a total of 40 women who visited to our hospital and Wallace memorial baptist had their charts and telephones reviewed for demographics, procedure data, clinical history, and follow up.
RESULTS
The mean age was 43.5+/-4.7 years old. A decrease in days per cycle (7.2+/-2.5 vs 5.2+/-2.7 days, P<0.0001), and in pads per day (9.9+/-2.3 vs 5.8+/-3.1 pads/d, P<0.0001) and an increase in hemoglobin (g/dL, mean+/-SD) /hematocrit (%, mean+/-SD) (7.2+/-0.5/29.4+/-2.7 vs 10.3+/- 1.7/36.4+/-4.4, P<0.0001) and an improvement in self-reported quality of life scores (discomfort score: 7.1+/-2.1 vs 2.5+/-1.7, P<0.0001, limitation of life: 1.9+/-1.5 vs 0.6+/-1.5, P<0.0001) were observed after UBT. Assessment of the level of satisfaction showed that 76% of patients were satisfied with the procedure. No major complications or deaths were found. The prognostic factors of UBT were age, parity, uterine pressure and depth, position. But age and uterine pressure had no significant difference statistically.
CONCLUSION
UBT is a safe and efficient method to treat abnormal uterine bleeding. It reduces the menstrual flow, improves the quality of life, and remarkably satisfies patients with a desire to preserve a uterus.