Results of a small study presented at the recent ACOG meeting adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that transcatheter uterine artery occlusion (UAO) with coils is a promising alternative to standard uterine artery embolization (UAE) in women with heavy uterine bleeding associated with uterine leiomyomata. Women undergoing UAO (n=6) had less postprocedural pain than UAE patients; six of eight UAE patients but none of the UAO patients required parenteral narcotics in the recovery room. In addition, women undergoing UAO had significantly shorter hospital stays (1 vs. 6 nights, respectively) than UAE patients. Pain scores at 1 week and Ruta bleeding scores at 3 months were similar. The study authors, from Kaiser Los Angeles Medical Center (Los Angeles, Calif.) point out that larger-scale studies with longer follow-up are required to confirm these results and further elucidate the efficacy of transcatheter UAO. 

Cunningham ES, Terasaki K, Ngo M, et al. Uterine artery embolization compared with occlusion for uterine leiomyomata. 