Volume 203, Issue 2 , Pages 105.e1-105.e13, August 2010
Uterine artery embolization vs hysterectomy in the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids: 5-year outcome from the randomized EMMY trial
Objective
The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcome and health related quality of life (HRQOL) 5 years after uterine artery embolization (UAE) or hysterectomy in the treatment of menorrhagia caused by uterine fibroids.
Study Design
Patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids who were eligible for hysterectomy were assigned randomly 1:1 to hysterectomy or UAE. Endpoints after 5 years were reintervention rates, menorrhagia, and HRQOL measures that were assessed by validated questionnaires.
Results
Patients were assigned randomly to UAE (n = 88) or hysterectomy (n = 89). Five years after treatment 23 of 81 UAE patients (28.4%) had undergone a hysterectomy because of insufficient improvement of complaints (24.7% after successful UAE). HRQOL measures improved significantly and remained stable until the 5-year follow-up evaluation, with no differences between the groups. UAE had a positive effect both on urinary and defecation function.
Conclusion
UAE is a well-established alternative to hysterectomy about which patients should be counseled.
Key words: fibroid tumor, hysterectomy, menorrhagia, uterine artery embolization
The EMMY trial participants and hospitals are listed with the full-length article at www.AJOG.org.
Supported by ZonMw “Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development” (Grant application no: 945-01-017) and by Boston Scientific Corporation, The Netherlands.
Cite this article as: van der Kooij SM, Hehenkamp WJK, Volkers NA, et al. Uterine artery embolization vs hysterectomy in the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids: 5-year outcome from the randomized EMMY trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2010;203:105.e1-13.
PII: S0002-9378(10)00079-7
doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2010.01.049
© 2010 Published by Elsevier Inc.
Volume 203, Issue 2 , Pages 105.e1-105.e13, August 2010
