Cavaterm thermal balloon ablation for the treatment of menorrhagia

Abstract

Fifty patients due to undergo endometrial ablation as a treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding were recruited to assess the efficacy and safety of a new thermal balloon ablation system (Cavaterm). The patients were followed up for a mean of 14 months (range 6-24): 34 (68%) have complete amenorrhoea, 12 (24%) only have spotting, two (4%) are eumenorrhoeic, and two (4%) have had failed treatments. There were no major complications, but two patients have required oral antibiotics for suspected endometritis. Although these preliminary results are encouraging, all patients remain under review to determine long term effect of the procedure. Further evaluation is also underway in the form of a randomised trial against endometrial laser ablation.

Outcome of the first 220 cases of endometrial balloon ablation using Cavaterm™plus

“…The combined amenorrhoea and hypomenorrhoea rates seen in the current study compare favourably to those seen in published studies utilising the old Cavaterm TM system (56 -82%), despite a 33% reduction in ablation time from 15 to 10 minutes and longer follow-up (Hawe et al, 1999;Abbott et al, 2003;Alaily et al, 2003;Vihko et al, 2003). Similarly, the overall patient satisfaction with the new system is comparable to that reported in the earlier studies.…”

“…These techniques, however, require considerable hysteroscopic experience and carry the potential for some serious complications, such as uterine perforation and fluid overload. In recent years, a second generation of endometrial ablation techniques that are safer and require only basic hysteroscopic skills have been introduced with comparable efficacy to first-generation ablation techniques (Overton et al, 1997;Amso et al, 1998;Meyer et al, 1998;Cooper et al, 1999;Hawe et al, 1999;Corson, 2001;Hefni et al, 2002;Abbott et al, 2003).…”

Endometrial ablation for heavy menstrual bleeding

“…Satisfaction with therapy was reported as excellent by 91.5% of the study subjects. Another study of 50 patients followed for an average of 14 months (range, 6-24 months) reported a short-term success rate of 96%, with 68% of patients developing amenorrhea, 24% with spotting, 4% eumenorrhea, and 4% failures [50]. The Cavaterm study with the longest follow-up interval reported on 60 women with DUB at least 48 months following balloon ablation with the Cavaterm plus system [51].…”

Endometrial Ablation: Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going?

“…Another study of 50 patients followed for an average of 14 months (range, 6 to 24 mo) reported a short-term success rate of 96%, with 68% of patients developing amenorrhea, 24% with spotting, 4% eumenorrhea, and 4% failures. 76 The Cavaterm study with the longest followup interval reported on 60 women with DUB at least 48 months after balloon ablation with the Cavaterm plus system. 77 In this cohort 58% were reported to be amenorrheic, 33% hypomenorrheic, and 9% with eumenorrhea.…”