Endometrial ablation with the Cavaterm™ thermal balloon

Abstract

This prospective observational study evaluates the efficacy and safety of thermal Balloon endometrial ablation using the Cavaterm system for the treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Seventy-seven women with a mean age of 43 years who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were treated under general anaesthesia. A 9-mm diameter catheter with a silicone balloon at its tip was inserted transcervically into the uterus and was inflated with sterile 1.5% glycine and connected to a control unit that maintained the temperature of the circulating heated fluid at 75 degrees C, monitored the pressure and terminated the treatment after 15 minutes. There were no intra-operative complications and patients tolerated the treatment well. Satisfaction rates were 90% at both 12 and 24 months. At 24 months 10% of patients had heavy periods, 5% normal periods, 39% light periods and 46% amenorrhoea. Cavaterm balloon ablation seems a safe and effective option for women with menorrhagia. The procedure does not require additional training and expertise in operative hysteroscopy and compares favourably with established techniques.

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.…”