Uterine artery embolization versus laparoscopic occlusion of uterine vessels for management of symptomatic uterine fibroids.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and complications of uterine artery embolization (UAE) versus laparoscopic occlusion of uterine vessels (LOUV) in the management of symptomatic fibroids. METHODS A pilot randomized clinical trial in which 20 patients with symptomatic fibroids were randomly allocated into two groups. Ten women underwent UAE, and 10 women underwent LOUV. Symptomatic improvement in menorrhagia and reduction in the volumes of the uterus and the fibroid were assessed at 3 and 6 months. RESULTS The patients were comparable with regard to age and parity. At 6 months, there was no significant difference in the mean reduction in menstrual blood loss, uterine volume, and volume of the dominant fibroid between the two groups (P=0.436, P=0.796, P=1.00, respectively). However, higher pain scores were recorded on day 1 in the UAE group compared with the LOUV group (P=0.0002). CONCLUSIONS The effects of UAE and LOUV in the management of symptomatic fibroids are comparable. The main advantage of LOUV is less postoperative pain compared with UAE.