Multiple Bowel Perforations Requiring Extensive Bowel Resection and Hysterectomy After Microwave Endometrial Ablation

Abstract

Heavy menstrual bleeding, or menorrhagia, is a primary cause of morbidity in women. Herein, we present the case of a 41-year-old woman who underwent day-surgery endometrial microwave ablation because of dysfunctional uterine bleeding. She had undergone previous laparoscopic sterilization, and had no other risk factors except for a retroverted uterus. The procedure was performed without any documented difficulties. The patient was readmitted the following day with clinical signs of acute abdomen. Emergency laparotomy revealed a large perforation on the anterior uterine wall, full-thickness burns in the distal ileum, and multiple ischemic areas in the ileum, cecum, and ascending colon secondary to microwave burns. A right hemicolectomy was required, with extended ileal resection and subtotal hysterectomy with ovarian conservation. Although microwave endometrial therapy seems to offer many advantages, in particular in terms of efficiency and technique, complications occur, and extensive safety measures must be implemented to prevent adverse effects such as occurred in this patient.