Uterine Artery Doppler Velocimetry of Uterine Leiomyomas in Nigerian Women / Dopplervelocimetria da artéria uterina de leiomiomas uterinos em mulheres nigerianas

Abstract Objective To describe the blood flow velocities and impedance indices changes in the uterine arteries of leiomyomatous uteri using Doppler sonography. Methods This was a prospective, case-control study conducted on 140 premenopausal women with sonographic diagnosis of uterine leiomyoma and 140 premenopausal controls without leiomyomas. Pelvic sonography was performed to diagnose and characterize the leiomyomas. The hemodynamics of the ascending branches of both main uterine arteries was assessed by Doppler interrogation. Statistical analysis was performed mainly using non-parametric tests. Results The median uterine volume of the subjects was 556 cm3, while that of the controls was 90.5 cm3 (p < 0.001). The mean peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMX), time-averaged mean velocity (Tmean), acceleration time (AT), acceleration index (AI), diastolic/systolic ratio (DSR), diastolic average ratio (DAR), and inverse pulsatility index (PI) were significantly higher in the subjects (94.2 cm/s, 29.7 cm/s, 49.1 cm/s, 25.5 cm/s, 118 ms, 0.8, 0.3, 0.6, and 0.8 respectively) compared with the controls (54.2 cm/s, 7.7 cm/s, 20.0 cm/s, 10.0 cm/s, 92.0 ms, 0.6, 0.1, 0.4, and 0.4 respectively); p < 0.001 for all values. Conversely, the mean PI, resistivity index (RI), systolic/diastolic ratio (SDR) and impedance index (ImI) of the subjects (1.52, 0.70, 3.81, and 3.81 respectively) were significantly lower than those of the controls (2.38, 0.86, 7.23, and 7.24 respectively); p < 0.001 for all values. Conclusion There is a significantly increased perfusion of leiomyomatous uteri that is most likely due to uterine enlargement.

Resumo Objetivo Descrever as velocidades do fluxo sanguíneo e as alterações dos índices de impedância nas artérias uterinas leiomiomatoso utilizando a ultrassonografia Doppler. Métodos Estudo prospectivo, caso-controle, realizado em 140 mulheres pré-menopáusicas com diagnóstico ultrassonográfico de leiomioma uterino e em 140 controles na pré-menopausa sem leiomiomas. A ultrassonografia pélvica foi realizada para diagnosticar e caracterizar os leiomiomas. A hemodinâmica dos ramos ascendentes de ambas as artérias uterinas principais foi avaliada por meio de interrogatório Doppler. A análise estatística foi feita principalmente por meio de testes não paramétricos. Resultados A média do volume uterino dos das pacientes foi de 556 cm3, enquanto a dos controles foi de 90,5 cm3 (p < 0,001). A média de velocidade de pico sistólico (VPS), a velocidade diastólica final (VDF), a velocidade máxima do tempo médio (VMTM), a velocidade média do tempo médio (VMdTM), o tempo de aceleração (TA), o índice de aceleração (IA), a relação diástole/sístole (RDS), a proporção diastólica média (PDM) e o índice de pulsatilidade (IP) inversa foram significativamente maiores em pacientes (94,2 cm/s, 29,7 cm/s, 49,1 cm/s, 25,5 cm/s, 118 ms, 0,8, 0,3, 0,6 e 0,8, respectivamente) do que nos controles (54,2 cm/s, 7,7 cm/s, 20,0 cm/s, 10,0 cm/s, 92,0 ms, 0,6, 0,1, 0,4 e 0,4, respectivamente); p < 0,001 para todos os valores. Por outro lado, o IPmédio, o índice de resistividade (IR), a relação sístole/diástole (RSD) e o índice de impedância (II) nas pacientes (1,52, 0,70, 3,81 e 3,81, respectivamente) foram significativamente mais baixos do que os dos controles (2,38, 0,86, 7,23 e 7,24, respectivamente); p < 0,001 para todos os valores. Conclusão Existe um aumento significativo da perfusão dos úteros leiomiomatosos, que provavelmente se deve ao alargamento uterino.

Post-Operative Hemorrhage after Myomectomy: Safety and Efficacy of Transcatheter Uterine Artery Embolization

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of transcatheter uterine artery embolization (UAE) for post-myomectomy hemorrhage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified eight female patients (age ranged from 29 to 51 years and with a median age of 37) in two regional hospitals who suffered from post-myomectomy hemorrhage requiring UAE during the time period from 2004 to 2012. A retrospective review of the patients' clinical data, uterine artery angiographic findings, embolization details, and clinical outcomes was conducted. RESULTS: The pelvic angiography findings were as follows: hypervascular staining without bleeding focus (n = 5); active contrast extravasation from the uterine artery (n = 2); and pseudoaneurysm in the uterus (n = 1). Gelatin sponge particle was used in bilateral uterine arteries of all eight patients, acting as an empirical or therapeutic embolization agent for the various angiographic findings. N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate was administered to the target bleeding uterine arteries in the two patients with active contrast extravasation. Technical and clinical success were achieved in all patients (100%) with bleeding cessation and no further related surgical intervention or embolization procedure was required for hemorrhage control. Uterine artery dissection occurred in one patient as a minor complication. Normal menstrual cycles were restored in all patients. CONCLUSION: Uterine artery embolization is a safe, minimally invasive, and effective management option for controlling post-myomectomy hemorrhage without the need for hysterectomy.

Embolização do mioma uterino sintomático / Symptomatic uterine fibroid embolization

Descrição dos principais aspectos da embolização do mioma uterino (EMU) sintomático, utilizando dados iniciais da casuística pessoal e revisão de literatura via Medline. A literatura demonstra melhora importante do sangramento uterino e dor pélvica após a EMU. A redução volumétrica dos nódulos de mioma e do útero após a EMU é observada em diversos estudos. O tempo de permanência hospitalar e recuperação pós EMU é menor quando comparado com a histerectomia ou miomectmia. Trabalhos randomizados ainda não foram executados para determinar qual é o melhor agente embolizante, duração da resposta clínica ao tratamento, efeitos na fertilidade e freqüência de complicações. Relatos de caso de gestação pós-EMU são descritos. A EMU representa alternativa terapêutica para o tratamento do mioma uterino. Em nossa casuística, a EMU é efetiva no controle dos sintomas e redução do volume uterino com baixa incidência de complicações. Em casos selecionados pode ser indicada a mulheres com desejo reprodutivo.

Parasitic leiomyoma: a case report of an unusual tumor and literature review.

Uterine leiomyomas are one of the most common tumors in women. Parasitic leiomyoma is an uncommon type of uterine leiomyoma. It may present with a wide spectrum of symptoms. The authors report a case of a 44-year-old woman who presented with a palpable pelvic mass and increased frequency of urination for 2 years. A parasitic leiomyoma that had blood supplies from the common iliac vessels was diagnosed during the operation. Total abdominal hysterectomy and mass removal were performed without complication. Even though a parasitic leiomyoma is uncommon, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of pelvic mass. The management depends on the operative finding and the desired fertility function of the patients. Literature on parasitic leiomyoma is also reviewed.

Arteriovenous malformation of the uterus-a cause of massive operative bleeding

Arteriovenous malformations of the uterus are extremely rare and they occur either in congenital or acquired forms. The most common clinical presentation is abnormal uterine bleeding, which may be aggravated by therapeutic curettage. Because of their rare incidence and clinical importance in management of patients, we report a case of arteriovenous malformation causing serious bleeding during a hysterectomy for uterine leiomyoma. The patient was a 47-year-old multiparous woman who had a history of chronic vaginal bleeding for one year. Numerous anomalous blood vessels draining into the right and left uterine arteries were found on the anterior wall of the uterus and parametrium.