Serious complications of uterine artery embolization for conservative treatment of fibroids

OBJECTIVE: Document major complications following treatment of fibroids by uterine artery embolization (UAE). DESIGN: Two case reports. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENTS: Two women with symptomatic fibroid uteri. INTERVENTION(S): Selective bilateral uterine artery embolization. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Complications attributable to UAE. RESULT(S): Two patients experienced significant morbidity requiring hysterectomy due to infection and/or partial bowel obstruction resulting from UAE. CONCLUSION(S): Reports of the management of symptoms related to fibroids with UAE infrequently include adverse outcomes and/or complications. The two cases we managed reinforce that UAE is not free of the risk of life-threatening complications that require emergency hysterectomy. Increasing surveillance for complications may help define the selection criteria that decrease the risks of UAE.