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Uterine artery embolization versus surgery for symptomatic uterine fibroids: a randomized controlled trial and a meta-analysis of the literature
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 11/17/2011
Jun F et al. – Compared with surgery, uterine artery embolization (UAE) has a shorter hospital stay, a shorter recovery time, and less major complications. More studies in the future need to done to evaluate its long–term effects and impact on fertility.
Methods- Both a randomized, controlled trial and meta–analysis of existing studies were performed.
- Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either UAE or surgery with 63 patients undergoing UAE and 64 undergoing surgery.
- A meta–analysis of existing studies was also performed.
- There were significant improvements in UAE groups in most components of quality of life assessment at 6 months.
- Besides, the UAE group had a shorter hospital stay (P < 0.01) and a shorter recovery time (P < 0.01) compared with the surgical group.
- During the follow–up, there were no difference in complications incidence (58 vs. 65%, P > 0.05), but the UAE group had less major complications (0 vs. 6%, P < 0.05).
- Meta–analysis of existing studies including those from the current study, further suggested that UAE group had a shorter hospital stay, a shorter recovery time and less major complications than the surgical group.
