Thermal Balloon Ablation in Patients with Multiple Morbidity: 3-Year Follow-up

Abstract

Study Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of a thermal uterine balloon therapy system in a specific group of patients with multiple morbidity. Design Retrospective cohort analysis (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in two university teaching hospitals. Patients Seventy women with severe systemic disease (American Association of Anesthesiologists physical status score ≥ III) and severe menorrhagia. Intervention Uterine balloon therapy under local anesthesia and 3 years of follow-up. Measurements and Main Results The women had a mean age of 44.3 years (range, 24–76). After treatment, 25.7% of the patients had no bleeding, 45.7% hypomenorrhea, and 21.4% normal menstrual flow. The procedure was repeated successfully for one patient, and five failures (7.1%) were observed. The blood count values differed significantly (p <.001) before and after balloon therapy. Conclusion Uterine balloon therapy is a suitable and useful option for women with severe uterine bleeding and concomitant severe systemic nongynecologic disease.