ABSTRACT
A embolização arterial uterina (EAU) para tratamento de miomas através do cateterismo seletivo das artérias uterinas tem-se estabelecido como uma opção eficaz, segura e minimamente invasiva. Neste artigo, fazemos revisão bibliográfica sobre o assunto no período compreendido entre 1994 e 2003, tomando como base o banco de dados da LILACS/BIREME, e apresentamos a experiência preliminar inicial do Serviço de Hemodinântica do Hospital Semper em Belo Horizonte.
Purposes: to make a review of the literature on uterine arterial embolization for the treatment of symptomatic uterine, leiomyomata and present the initial results of Semper Hospital in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Methods: medical publications on the subject were analized, from the first publication in 1996, until July 2003, considering the LILACS/BIREME database. We also made a retrospective study of the first 19 patients treated with this approach at Semper Hospital, in Belo Horizonte, analyzing the technical aspects recorded in CD and consulting the medical and ultrassonographic patient records. Results: technical success, defined as selective catheterization and embolization of both uterine arteries, was reached in 100% of patients (n=19). Sixteen of the seventeen patients with menorrhage (94,1%) recovered normal menstrual cycles. Pelviv pain and symptoms of organ compression disappeared in all the patients that presented these symptoms before the procedure. The hemoglobin levels rose from 6.0 - 11.2 g/dl on admission to 12.2 - 14.1 g/dl on the 6 month follow-up. Conclusion: Particulate uterine arterial embolization now constitutes a safe and effective alternative to hysterectomy or myomectomy for the treatment of uterine leiomyomata.