X-Ray Medical Group’s interventional radiologists perform Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) at Sharp Hospital in La Mesa, CA.
UFE is a minimally invasive technique used to treat symptomatic uterine fibroids. The patient lies on her back on a specialized procedure table. Intravenous sedative medications and local anesthetic agents are given to assure patient comfort. A small plastic tube (catheter) is placed into the blood vessel in the groin. A fluoroscopy (x-ray) camera is used to guide the catheter into the uterine arteries where tiny particles are injected to block the blood supply to the fibroid tumors. Patients typically stay in the hospital for one to two days following the procedure.
UFE is performed when fibroid tumors produce undesirable symptoms. Fibroids are common benign tumors of the wall of the uterus that are often asymptomatic but can produce heavy menstrual bleeding or severe pelvic pain. Potential candidates are evaluated prior to the procedure by one of our interventional radiologists; Patients also require evaluation by a gynecologist, laboratory studies, and an ultrasound or MRI examination of the pelvis prior to the procedure.
