dressing. Your IV line will be removed.

After the procedure, you will be shifted to the

recovery room for observation and most likely

remain in the Hospital so that you may receive

pain medications.

The procedure usually takes 90 minutes to

complete.

What will I experience during and afterthe procedure?

You will feel a slight prick when the IV line is

inserted into your vein and a sting in the area

where the local anaesthetic is administered. The

sedative will relax you and you may or may not

be awake during the procedure. Once you are

injected with contrast material, you may have a

warm, flushed or burning sensation during the

process. You may also feel slight pressure when

the catheter is inserted.

You should inform your nurse or technologist if

you notice any bleeding, swelling or pain at the

site where the catheter has been inserted.

Most patients experience some side effects after

the embolisation procedure, which usually consists

of pain that is easily controlled using medication.

You may also experience cramps in the pelvis area

for several days after the procedure and possibly

nausea and a low grade fever. The cramps will be

more severe in the first 24 hours and rapidly

improve over the next few days.

The fibroids take between two to three months

to shrink to a size so that symptoms like pain

and pressure improve. It is common to

experience heavy bleeding in the first menstrual

cycle after the procedure.

When will I be allowed to go home?

You will usually be allowed to leave for home 24

hours after the procedure unless you are

experiencing a considerable amount of pain. You

should be able to resume your normal activities

within one to two weeks.

Who interprets my results and how do Iget them?

A radiologist, a physician trained to use medical

imaging to diagnose and treat diseases, will

analyse your results and send a signed report to

your primary care or referring physician, who will

share the results with you.

Patient Guide Series

GETTING A

UTERINE FIBROIDEMBOLISATIONP

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Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre7A Block R-3, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan

Tel: +92 42 3590 5000 Ext 4133 - 4134 | Fax: +92 42 3594 5150 www.shaukatkhanum.org.pk

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospitaland Research Centre

What is a uterine fibroid embolisation(UFE)?

Fibroid tumours are masses of fibre and muscle

tissue in the wall of the uterus. While these

tumours may not be cancerous, they can cause

heavy menstrual bleeding, pain in the pelvic

area, or pressure on the bladder or bowel.

Embolisation is a minimally invasive procedure

that stops blood flow to a particular organ or

area in the body, which can be used to shrink a

tumour.

In a uterine fibroid embolisation, medicines or

synthetic material are placed inside the blood

vessels with the help of medical imaging to

prevent blood flow to the fibroid tumours in order

to shrink them.

Why do I need to have this procedure?

Your physician has probably asked to you to

have a UFE procedure to control and treat

symptoms caused by fibroid tumours, or stop

severe bleeding.

Because the effects of this procedure on fertility

are not known, the ideal candidates for this

procedure are pre-menopausal women with

fibroid tumour symptoms who do not wish to

become pregnant but do not want to have their

uterus removed. Your physician may have asked

you to have a UFE procedure if you cannot

undergo a blood transfusion for health or

religious reasons, or because you cannot

receive general anaesthesia.

How can I prepare for the procedure?

You may be asked not to eat or drink anything

several hours before your procedure, especially

if you will be given a sedative.

You will be admitted to the Hospital on the

morning of the procedure and you should plan

to stay for one to two days.

You will be given a gown to wear during the

procedure.

Is there any information I should relay tomy physician before the procedure?

Be sure to inform your physician of any recent

illnesses or other medical conditions.

You should also notify your physician of any

allergies, especially to contrast material or

anaesthesia, and about any medications you

may be taking. You will receive specific

instructions if any changes need to be made to

your regular medication schedule and your

physician will advise you to stop taking aspirin

or a blood thinner for a number of days before

the procedure.

Women should always let their physician or

technologist if there is a possibility that they are

pregnant because the x-rays can harm your baby.

If an x-ray is absolutely necessary, precautions

will be taken to minimise radiation exposure to the

baby. You should also inform your physician if you

are breastfeeding at the time of the exam and they

will guide you how to proceed.

How is the procedure performed?

You will be positioned on the examining table. A

nurse or technologist will draw a small amount

of blood before the procedure to make sure that

your kidneys are working properly and your

blood is clotting. A urine bag will be attached to

you as you will not be allowed to move for 3 to 4

hours after the procedure.

A nurse or technologist will insert an intravenous

(IV) line into the small vein in your hand or arm.

A sedative may be given to you through the IV

line to relax you. You may also receive general

anaesthesia.

After this, the area around the groin where the

catheter will be inserted will be shaved and

cleaned. You will then be given a local

anaesthetic.

The radiologist will proceed and make a small

incision in the skin to insert the catheter into an

artery and guide it using medical imaging to the

treatment area. You will be injected with contrast

material, a dye that enhances the visibility of

certain tissues or blood vessels, via the IV line.

Then, several x-rays are taken.

Once this is done, medication or synthetic material

will be inserted using the catheter until the arteries

stop the blood from accessing the fibroids.

The nurse or technologist will remove your

catheter and your incision site is closed by

placing pressure on the area to stop any

bleeding. The site will be covered using