ABSTRACT
Uterine artery embolization (UAE) has been successfully utilized for refractory postpartum hemorrhage, bleeding after gynecologic surgery or pelvic trauma, and the treatment of pelvic arteriovenous malformation.1,2
These initial uses of UAE were performed under emergent conditions, and offered life-saving therapy when patients could not await or withstand surgery. The desire for minimally invasive alternatives for the management of symptomatic uterine myomas prompted Ravina et al to propose UAE as an alternative to surgical treatment of uterine fibroids in 1995.3 The demand for UAE subsequently accelerated following other reports that symptoms of uterine bleeding and pelvic discomfort were improved without the need for surgery.4-9 The growing public demand for UAE in treating symptomatic uterine fibroids promoted use of this technique before clinical trials confirmed the relative safety, effectiveness, and indications for UAE compared with conventional surgical and medical options.
