Joćo Pisco MD, PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Sandra Marisa Duarte MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ana Ferreira, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Tiago Bilhim, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Daniela Santos, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

F. Moura Pires, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate if the association of antihistamine, anti-inflammatory and acid suppressing drugs plus good information before UAE can reduce the post-embolization syndrome (PES) and increase the number of outpatients.

Two hundred forty patients, with symptomatic uterine fibroids underwent UAE. Eighteen and six hours before embolization the patients were medicated with omeprazole, diclofenac potassium and hydroxyzine. After embolization the asymptomatic patients or with mild symptoms were released from the hospital 6 - 8 hours after UAE as outpatients. The patients were informed about the constitutional symptoms they could expect and the corresponding medication. The clinical presentation and the post-embolization symptoms of the outpatients and inpatients were compared.

Two hundred thirty one patients were treated as outpatients and nine as inpatients. There were 2 readmissions to control pain and vomiting, therefore the number of inpatients increased to 11 (4.6%) and the number of outpatients decreased to 229 (95.4%). There was no relation of the clinical presentation, fibroid and uterus size before embolization with the PES. The PES of the inpatients was markedly worse just in the first 12 hours after UAE.

The association of antihistamine, anti-inflammatory and acid suppressing drugs plus good information of the constitutional symptoms and corresponding medication before UAE reduce the PES and increase the number of outpatients (95.4%).

Management of postembolization symptoms is the key to perform Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE) as an outpatient procedure.

Pisco, J, Duarte, S, Ferreira, A, Bilhim, T, Santos, D, Pires, F, How to Reduce the Post-embolization Syndrome and to Perform Uterine Artery Embolization as an Outpatient Procedure.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5003540.html