Fertility outcomes following pelvic embolization in women with acquired uterine arteriovenous malformation

Objective

Acquired uterine arteriovenous malformation (UAVM) is a rare, life-threatening disease. Angiography with uterine arterial embolization (UAE) is the diagnostic tool and a choice of fertility-sparing treatment. Here, we present a series of five successful pregnancies after embolization of UAVM.

Subsequent pregnancy following uterine artery embolization for interstitial pregnancy

Subsequent pregnancy following an interstitial pregnancy is rare. The risk of uterine rupture may be increased in this situation. Uterine selective embolization has been proposed as an effective treatment. However, no further pregnancy has ever been described after this method of management. We are reporting a case of subsequent pregnancy following interstitial pregnancy managed by embolization. The pregnancy was uneventful. A healthy male infant was delivered by C-section. This case supports the hypothesis that selective embolization for interstitial pregnancy may respect fertility. However, as actual risk of uterine rupture in subsequent pregnancies remains unknown, a C-section is advised.     

Treating a recurrent uterine arteriovenous malformation with uterine artery embolization. A case report

BACKGROUND: Uterine arteriovenous malformation is a rare condition. Uterine artery embolization offers the possibility of conservative management as opposed to the traditional hysterectomy. We report a case with recurrent uterine arteriovenous malformation confirmed by angiography and successfully treated with a second embolization procedure. CASE: A 33-year-old woman presented with heavy vaginal bleeding. The diagnosis of uterine arteriovenous malformation was suspected on Doppler ultrasonography and confirmed by angiography. The first embolization procedure was performed using polyvinyl alcohol and steel coils. Recurrence was diagnosed 1 year later with the same imaging techniques. The second embolization procedure was performed using histoacryl. The patient remained asymptomatic at 1-year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive management is an option in recurrent uterine arteriovenous malformation.     

Successful term pregnancy after selective embolization of a large postmolar uterine arteriovenous malformation

Abstract.   Tsai C-C, Cheng Y-F, Changchien C-C, Lin H. Successful term pregnancy after selective embolization of a large postmolar uterine arteriovenous malformation. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2006; 16(Suppl. 1): 339–341.
Uterine arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are very uncommon disorders. Successful conservative treatment with subsequently conceived is rarely reported. We describe a 31-year-old woman with a complex and large postmolar AVM; she was successfully treated with transarterial selective embolization for a long history of repeated excessive vaginal bleeding and anemia. She resumed normal menstrual periods soon after treatment, and she subsequently conceived about 2 years later. A healthy male baby was delivered at 39 weeks of gestation via vaginal route. Selective embolization of a complex and large uterine AVM seems to be feasible for the treatment of uterine bleeding and preservation of reproductive capability.     

A new fertility-preserving treatment modality for life-threatening bleeding caused by acquired uterine arteriovenous malformation (AVM): Combination laparoscopic ligation of uterine arteries and AVM suture

ObjectiveSymptomatic Uterine arteriovenous malformation (AVM) can result in sudden and massive vaginal bleeding that can be life-threatening. We report a new fertility-preserving treatment modality for disastrous bleeding caused by acquired uterine AVM: Combination laparoscopic ligation of uterine arteries and AVM suture.Case reportA 39-year-old female received Dilatation and Curettage due to missed abortion. However, she experienced heavy vaginal bleeding after surgery. Uterine arteriovenous malformation (AVM) was diagnosed by color Doppler ultrasonography, hysteroscopy, and angiography. She was successfully treated using laparoscopy bilateral uterine arteries ligation followed by application of uterine AVM suture with absorbable barbed wound closure device. After the laparoscopic surgery, vaginal bleeding stopped immediately. Complete regression of the AVM lesion on sonography was noted 8 months after laparoscopic surgery. Besides, this patient had normal menstruation after the operation.ConclusionThis case report describes for the first time a successful combination of bilateral uterine artery ligation and AVM suture to treat a patient with uterine arteriovenous malformation. We demonstrated the efficacy and safety of this fertility preserving method.     

Pregnancy after transcatheter embolization of a uterine arteriovenous malformation

A 25-year-old woman with a congenital uterine arteriovenous malformation had a long history of repeated excessive vaginal bleeding. She was successfully treated with transarterial embolization. She had normal menstrual periods for 6 months and subsequently conceived. She was delivered of a normally grown baby at 35 weeks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the third pregnancy described after successful embolization of an arteriovenous malformation.     

Fertility and pregnancy outcomes after uterine artery occlusion with or without myomectomy

Uterine artery occlusion (UAO) is one of the minimally invasive procedures used to treat uterine fibroids. It has demonstrated the potential to reduce fibroid growth and related symptoms with few complications and adverse effects. Meanwhile, it may preserve the uterus and ovarian blood supply to allow pregnancy in women with symptomatic fibroids. Similarly, myomectomy is an alternative to hysterectomy in the treatment of symptomatic fibroids, especially for patients who want to maintain fertility. However, only few articles have focused on fertility and pregnancy outcomes after the combined procedures of UAO and myomectomy. We reviewed the effects of UAO with or without myomectomy on fertility and pregnancy outcomes by searching the MEDLINE biomedicine database, using uterine artery occlusion, myomectomy and pregnancy as key words. In conclusion, conception and term pregnancy were possible after these procedures, but evidence on whether risks of abortion and preterm birth have been increasing simultaneously remains inconclusive. Therefore, good counseling on benefits and risks of pregnancy outcomes before performing these procedures is mandatory.     

Ectopic pregnancy after successful treatment with percutaneous transcatheter uterine arterial embolization for congenital uterine arteriovenous malformation: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Uterine arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a rare disease. Percutaneous transcatheter uterine arterial embolization (UAE) has been performed in patients who wish to preserve their ability to conceive. UAE is considered to be a safe and effective procedure, but its long-term effect on fertility has not been fully elucidated. We present a case of ectopic tubal pregnancy after conservative treatment with UAE for uterine AVM. CASE: A 30-year-old Japanese woman was admitted for the treatment of unruptured right tubal pregnancy at 6 weeks of gestation. She had conceived spontaneously and delivered a healthy baby at term, 3 years previously. Subsequently, she was successfully treated with UAE for a large congenital uterine AVM. Transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonography revealed no evidence of residual AVM vessels. After the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy, the patient underwent right tubectomy. At laparotomy, there were no adhesions or structural anomalies in the pelvic cavity that might affect tubal function. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and she is now healthy without conception 24 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Prior uterine arterial embolization may have affected the tubal function in the present case, allowing tubal pregnancy to occur.     

Repeated pulmonary embolism with cardiac arrest after uterine artery embolization for uterine arteriovenous malformation: A case report and literature review

Objective

Uterine arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal and nonfunctional communication between uterine arteries and veins, currently managed by uterine artery embolization (UAE). Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the most severe and life-threatening complication of this procedure.

Successful medical treatment with danazol after failed embolization of uterine arteriovenous malformation

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter arterial embolization has been the therapy of choice for uterine arteriovenous malformations, whereas medical therapy has not been popular because of patient propensity to bleed. CASE: A 29-year-old woman, gravida 3, para 0, was diagnosed with uterine arteriovenous malformation. Because initial treatment with uterine artery embolization was unsuccessful, she was ultimately treated with danazol. Resolution of the lesion after 2 weeks of danazol therapy was observed. As of follow-up at 16 months, she has remained free from further abnormal bleeding episodes and recurrence of the lesion. CONCLUSION: Danazol has the potential for medical management of uterine arteriovenous malformations in hemodynamically stable patients who do not respond to embolization.     

Amenorrhoea revealing an arteriovenous uterine malformation, and recovery of menses after embolization

A case is reported of secondary amenorrhoea related to an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) successfully treated with embolization, with a recovery of menstrual cycles. A 28-year-old woman presented with secondary amenorrhoea as the only clinical symptom. Although she had an eugonadic status, there was no genital withdrawal bleeding upon cessation of an oral contraceptive. Pelvic transvaginal ultrasonography revealed a pelvic mass but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) clearly showed an AVM. Classical angiography was performed with endovascular embolization. Partial thrombosis of the lesion was assessed by magnetic resonance angiography. Recovery of menses occurred 2 months later. It is speculated that blood stolen from the endometrium by the uterine AVM could have been responsible for the amenorrhoea. It is a very unusual cause, and it can be successfully treated with embolization.     

Pathologic features of uterine leiomyomas following uterine artery embolization.

Bilateral uterine artery embolization has recently been employed as an alternative to operational treatment of uterine leiomyomas. The pathologic features induced by uterine artery embolization have not been previously described in detail. Usually patients experience symptomatic improvement with a reduction in size of the leiomyomas. This report describes the pathologic features in a series of 10 uterine leiomyomas where tissue was available for histologic examination following uterine artery embolization. Characteristic histologic features within the leiomyomas included massive necrosis, sometimes with dystrophic calcification, vascular thrombosis, and intravascular foreign material that elicited a histiocytic and foreign-body giant cell reaction. In some cases, intravascular foreign material was present elsewhere in the myometrium, the cervix, or paraovarian region. In occasional cases, there were foci of myometrial necrosis and microabscess formation beyond the confines of the leiomyomas. Foci of extrauterine inflammation were also occasionally identified. Histopathologists should be aware of these findings because the use of uterine artery embolization will possibly become more widespread in the future.     

Spontaneous multiple pregnancy after uterine artery embolization for uterine fibroid: case report

Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is an effective non-surgical treatment for uterine myomas. Effects on fertility preservation are still under investigation. Various complications have been reported as well as few pregnancies. We report a case of spontaneous twins pregnancy following UAE in a woman who desired to preserve fertility.