Joao Martins Pisco MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

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

Tiago Bilhim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hugo Alexandre Meireles Rio Tinto MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the rates of spontaneous and successful pregnancies, with live births, and the complications after uterine fibroid embolization.

Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) was performed in 782 patients, in a single center, and 81 of them wanted to conceive. None of the patients could get a successful pregnancy at the time of embolization. UFE was performed, as an outpatient procedure, by single femoral approach with a C2F5 catheter and both uterine arteries were embolized. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles 300μ, 500μ and 700μ and Embozene microspheres 500μ and 700μ were used as embolic agents.

From the 81 patients who wanted to become pregnant, 48 (59.3%) had spontaneous pregnancies. Age ranged 27 - 43 years (mean 36.2); time between UFE and conception ranged 2 - 26 months (mean 10.6). From the 48 patients with spontaneous pregnancies, seven had 18 previous unsuccessful miomectomies and three had 7 unsuccessful in vitro fertilizations. The treatment offered to the remaining patients was hysterectomy in 10 and miomectomy in 12 (in 6 an eventual hysterectomy could not be rule out). There were 44 finished pregnancies with 38 successful life births (86.4%), 4 spontaneous abortions (9.1%), 1 induced abortion (due to patient taking isotretinoine) and 1 stillbirth at 36 weeks. There were 3 pre term gestations (7.9%) that lasted 33 weeks in one patient and 36 weeks in two patients. The full term gestation of the remaining 35 women ranged from 37 to 41 weeks (mean 39 weeks). There were 2 cases of placenta previa (5.3%). There were 5 low birth weights (13.2%) - 1.700 Kg, 1.980 Kg, 2.290 Kg, 2.320 Kg and 2.325 Kg. The weight of the remaining 33 newborns ranged between 2.610 Kg and 4.900 Kg (mean 2.920 Kg). For 25 women it was the first pregnancy whereas 13 had been previously pregnant. There were 26 cesarean sections (68.4%) and 12 vaginal deliveries. All the babies born presented no significant neonatal problems. In the remaining 4 patients with ongoing pregnancies the evolution has been normal and are waiting for term.  

There were 59.5% of spontaneous pregnancies after UFE, and 86.4% of those had successful pregnancies with live births and low rate of complications.

This work represents the largest series of spontaneous pregnancies after UFE, with the best rate of successful pregnancies, and the lowest rate of complications.  

Pisco, J, Duarte, S, Bilhim, T, Rio Tinto, H, High Rate of Successful Pregnancies with Live Births after Uterine Fibroid Embolization.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9008256.html