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03/12/2010 |
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Fibroid Treatment at St. Mary's Health Center
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Imagine a revolutionary, non-surgical option for women facing hysterectomy that consists of an overnight hospital stay, shorter recovery time at home and less pain. Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) promises just that, and more.
Uterine fibroid tumors can be very painful, and are the most common cause of hysterectomies - a major surgery where the uterus and sometime the ovaries are removed. Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous or benign growths that develop in the muscle wall of the uterus. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, more than half a million hysterectomies are performed in the United States each year. This surgery requires general anesthesia, several days in the hospital and up to six weeks of recovery.
Jay W. Albovias, M.D. at SSM St. Mary's Health Center is experienced at performing UFE. Dr. Albovias is a board certified radiologist, and has completed a vascular and interventional radiology fellowship at Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C., that allows him to conduct such procedures as angiograms, angioplasty and UFE.
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"UFE has slowly gained acceptance as a treatment option over the last several years. It is a remarkable alternative for many women that not only has shown good results, but spares the uterus and ovaries."
Jay W. Albovias, M.D.
SSM St. Mary's Health Center
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- Back or leg pain
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Frequent urination
- Constipation and bloating
- Enlarged abdomen
The UFE Procedure
At St. Mari's Health Center, UFE procedures are performed in the Angiography Suite located in the Radiology department. While the patient is conscious but sedated, Dr. Albovias makes a tiny incision in the groin and inserts a small tube called a catheter into an artery. With the help of X-ray imaging, Dr. Albovias watches the procedure on a monitor while guiding the catheter through the artery to the uterus. Next, he injects tiny particles the size of grains of sand into the artery that supplies blood to the fibroid. These particles then cut off the blood flow or "embolize" the fibroid. By cutting off blood flow, the fibroid will soon shrink and die.
Patients are monitored overnight in the hospital. "Because patients will experience some pain and discomfort, I tell my patients to take it ways for about a week at home," he adds. Dr. Albovias calls the patient about one week after the procedure to check on the progress and then asks that they see their personal physician in two weeks for a final follow up.
What Causes Fibroids?
Dr. Albovias says the exact cause of fibroid uterine development is unclear, but researchers have found links to both genetic predisposition and possible hormone stimulation. Fibroid tumors are very common, and often are so small they cause no problems. Studies show that between 20 and 40percent of women age 35 and older and as many as 50 percent of African-American women have uterine fibroids of significant size.
For more information about UFE, please call SSM St. Mary's Health Center at 314-768-8250.
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