Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are very common non-cancerous (benign) growths that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. While fibroids do not always cause symptoms, their size and location can lead to problems for some women, including pain and heavy bleeding.

To treat uterine fibroids, the interventional radiologists at Veradia make a tiny nick in the skin in the groin and insert a catheter into the femoral artery. Using real-time imaging, the physicians guide the catheter through the pelvic vessels and then release tiny particles into the uterine arteries that supply blood to the fibroid tumors. This blocks the blood flow to the fibroid tumors, causing them to shrink and die. This procedure is performed in the hospital with conscious sedation and requires an overnight stay.

Day Of Treatment

Because you will be sedated during the procedure, you may not eat any solid foods after midnight the day before the procedure. You may take your usual medications with small sips of water the morning of the procedure.

Please refrain from taking aspirin for one week before the procedure.

If you are on blood thinners, please notify us immediately so we can speak with your primary doctor and determine a course of action.

Please plan to arrive at the hospital 90 minutes prior to the scheduled procedure time to allow time for registration and pre-procedure activities. Prior to the procedure, an IV will be started and an antibiotic will be given.

The uterine fibroid embolization procedure (UFE) takes 1-3 hours depending on the vascular anatomy and volume of fibroids. During the procedure, you will be given medications (Versed and Fentanyl) for relaxation and pain relief. You may be in a relaxed wakefullness or lightly sleeping during the procedure. In addition to the physician performing the procedure, a nurse will monitor you closely while you receive these medications to ensure your comfort and safety.

Following the procedure, you may experience significant uterine cramping and nausea. This typically resolves over the first 12-24 hours and is expected. Initially, you will be given IV medications to help manage these symptoms. Usually, these symptoms can be managed with oral medications the day after the procedure.

Uterine fibroid embolization is a procedure that must be performed in a hospital interventional radiology department. The physicians at Veradia have privileges at both the Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center and the Sanford USD Medical Center so the procedure can be performed at either of these facilities.

Going Home

Most patients are discharged from the hospital the day after the procedure.

You will be given prescriptions for pain relief, nausea relief, and a stool softener. The most common problem or discomfort after UFE is constipation.

Post-embolization syndrome (PES) is a group of symptoms that commonly occur following UFE. The symptoms of PES are pain, low-grade fever, nausea/vomiting, and malaise. This syndrome may take up to 1 month to resolve but patients are typically able to resume work and their usually activities after 1 week. Should you experience severe pain, foul-smelling discharge or a high-grade fever (greater than 101.5 F) please contact us immediately.

We will call you several days after the procedure to see how you are doing. You will have a follow-up appointment with the physician performing the procedure back at Veradia, typically after 3 months.