Luz Saúde : Treatment of Myomas by Uterine Artery Embolization

Treatment of Myomas by Uterine Artery Embolization

The treatment of uterine fibroids by uterine artery embolization is available at Hospital da Luz Arrábida, under the coordination of António Miguel Madureira, interventional radiologist with over 10 years of experience in this kind of procedure.

Uterine fibroids - also known as myomas or leiomyomas - are benign tumors of the uterus muscle wall (they are not cancerous). It's the most common gynecological tumor (about 40%) in women in fertile age.

Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is a minimally invasive non-surgical therapeutic, used in the treatment of gynecological and obstetric haemorrhage. In this case, it allows to block the blood supply to fibroids, conditioning their death and dimensional reduction, with subsequent resolution of symptoms. Endovascular performed (by puncture of a groin artery), UAE consists in the injection of inframillimetric microspheres in both uterine arteries through a small plastic tube/catheter.

The interventional radiologist can visualize the procedure by means of angiographic techniques (as in cardiac catheterization), with no need of surgical incisions. The treatment is performed in conscient patients and, due to its minimally invasive nature, requires periods of hospital internment and recovery shorter than in surgical options. One or two weeks later, women can resume their normal daily activity. It is equally efficient in cases of uterus with multiple fibroids and the recurrence of fibroids after the procedure is extremely rare.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Hospital da Luz Arrábida by phone: 223 776 800. You can also schedule an appointment online using the site or the Patient Portal.