Technical Success and Safety of Transradial Uterine Artery Embolisation for Symptomatic Fibroids at a Single Centre in South Africa

Abstract

Abstract Background The femoral artery has remained the primary means of vascular access for uterine artery embolisation in the treatment of uterine fibroids. Transradial access for coronary artery catheterization is gaining wider acceptance, with studies in the cardiac literature demonstrating key advantages. The primary objective of this study was to compare the technical success and safety of the transradial approach for uterine artery embolization performed at a single centre in South Africa. Methods Data was obtained from consecutive patients undergoing uterine artery embolisation for the treatment of symptomatic fibroids over a 30-month period. Specifically technical success and patient safety were analysed. Results A total of 496 patients were included in the study. Of these 27 patients had primary contraindications to radial access. The remaining 469 patients who underwent radial artery access, technical success was achieved in 459 cases (97.9%). The primary cause of technical failure was radial artery spasm (9.9%). Mean procedure times were 53.5 minutes ± 15.2 minutes with total screening times of 9.6 ± 9.1 minutes. The mean radiation dose area product was 6321.7 ± 3449.8 cGy.cm2. Complications were recorded in 40 (8.5%) patients, of which 7 (1.5%) were major complications. Conclusions This study corroborates evidence that this approach is a safe and effective alternative to the traditional transfemoral route for the treatment of uterine fibroids.