Usefulness of microwave endometrial ablation for emergent control of acute uterine bleeding

Abstract

We evaluated the effectiveness of microwave endometrial ablation (MEA) for the emergent control of life-threatening uterine bleeding. Seventeen patients received emergency MEA. Twelve out of seventeen patients were treated with MEA as their primary procedure, and five out of seventeen patients were treated for an intraoperative uterine bleeding. In all twelve patients treated preoperatively, MEA was highly effective and successfully controlled acute uterine bleeding. Five out of seventeen patients were treated with MEA for a bleeding following resection of a submucosal myoma or polyp. MEA successfully controlled bleeding in all five patients, thereby preventing them from undergoing hysterectomy. Current findings suggest that emergency MEA is a promising way to control a life threatening uterine bleeding.