Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE)
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) gives women an important, minimally-invasive treatment option to hysterectomy and other invasive surgeries. With less risk and less pain.
UFE is performed by interventional radiologists, doctors who specialize in targeted, image-guided treatments. By blocking the blood flow to the fibroids and causing them to shrink, the treatment is approximately 90 percent successful in alleviating the heavy bleeding and painful periods associated with them. Hysterectomy, a surgical procedure performed by gynecologists to remove the uterus, historically has been the predominant therapy for fibroids. 
UFE is a major advancement in the treatment of fibroids and is covered by most major insurance carriers. Because it is minimally invasive, it involves less risk, less pain and a shorter recovery time than open surgical procedures.
While the patient is conscious, but sedated, the interventional radiologist makes a tiny incision (less than one-eighth of an inch) in the groin and inserts a tiny catheter into the artery. The catheter is guided through the artery under X-ray imaging to the uterus. The interventional radiologist then injects tiny particles the size of grains of sand into the artery that is supplying blood to the tumor to cut off the blood flow, or embolize it.
UFE usually requires a hospital stay of one night. Many women resume light activities in a few days and the majority are able to return to normal activities within one week. This is dramatically shorter that the recovery time for open hysterectomy which includes three to four days in the hospital and a six-week recovery time.
Uterine fibroids are very common non-cancerous (benign) growths that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. They can range in size from very tiny (a quarter of an inch) to larger than a cantaloupe. Occasionally, they can cause the uterus to grow to the size of a five-month pregnancy. In most cases, there is more than one fibroid in the uterus.
Once it is determined a patient is a candidate for the UFE procedure offered by The Vascular Center, please call (864) 596-7428 to schedule an appointment.
To learn more, please visit the following:
Fibroids1.com - Your Complete Source for Fibroids & Uterine Health Information
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