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Uterine artery embolization versus surgery for symptomatic uterine fibroids: a randomized controlled trial and a meta-analysis of the literature

  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy and safety of uterine artery embolization (UAE) for symptomatic uterine fibroids with surgery.

Methods

Both a randomized, controlled trial and meta-analysis of existing studies were performed.

Results

Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either UAE or surgery with 63 patients undergoing UAE and 64 undergoing surgery. A meta-analysis of existing studies was also performed.There were significant improvements in UAE groups in most components of quality of life assessment at 6 months. Besides, the UAE group had a shorter hospital stay (P < 0.01) and a shorter recovery time (P < 0.01) compared with the surgical group. During the follow-up, there were no difference in complications incidence (58 vs. 65%, P > 0.05), but the UAE group had less major complications (0 vs. 6%, P < 0.05). Meta-analysis of existing studies including those from the current study, further suggested that UAE group had a shorter hospital stay, a shorter recovery time and less major complications than the surgical group.

Conclusions

Compared with surgery, UAE has a shorter hospital stay, a shorter recovery time, and less major complications. More studies in the future need to done to evaluate its long-term effects and impact on fertility.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cerebral Vessels, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, Shanxi, China

    Feng Jun, Liu Yamin, Zhang Min & Zhang Bo

  2. Institute of Neurobiology of Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, China

    Xiao Xinli

  3. Department of Urinary Surgery, Hospital of Xi’an Electric Power Center, Xi’an, 710032, Shanxi, China

    Liu Zhe

  4. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, China

    Gou Wenli

Authors
  1. Feng Jun
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  2. Liu Yamin
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  3. Xiao Xinli
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  4. Liu Zhe
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  5. Zhang Min
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  6. Zhang Bo
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  7. Gou Wenli
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gou Wenli.

Additional information

F. Jun, L. Yamin, X. Xinli and L. Zhe contributed equally to this work.

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Jun, F., Yamin, L., Xinli, X. et al. Uterine artery embolization versus surgery for symptomatic uterine fibroids: a randomized controlled trial and a meta-analysis of the literature. Arch Gynecol Obstet 285, 1407–1413 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-011-2065-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-011-2065-9

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